September 25, 2016
NGO Monitor

Human Rights Watch Teams Up with BDS Pressuring FIFA to Bench Israel

In advance of a forthcoming publication from Human Rights Watch, joining the
Palestinian campaign calling on FIFA to take punitive measures against
Israel, NGO Monitor released the following statement:

It is disturbing, but not surprising, to see that Human Rights Watch (HRW)
has joined Jibril Rajoub and the Palestinian Authority's political warfare
against Israel, this time in the campaign targeting Israel within FIFA. HRW
has long supported BDS campaigns against Israel.

As is often the case, other political NGOs are also using FIFA to target
Israel. The European Council for Foreign Relations has pushed for sanctions
against Israeli football teams as a part of its "differentiation" approach,
trying to frame BDS as consistent with existing rules, as opposed to
creating new policy and targeting Israel in a discriminatory manner. Avaaz
is also involved in this initiative, as is the Palestinian BDS National
Committee (a coalition of dozens of NGOs).

HRW's support for the PA's diplomatic attacks, using demonization rhetoric
of "stolen land" and false claims of "discrimination," further identify it
as an anti-Israel political advocacy organization that exploits human
rights. HRW's publications reflect the absence of professional standards,
research methodologies, and military and legal expertise, and contain a
deep-seated ideological bias against Israel. There is no reason that
tomorrow's expected report will be any different from the usual anti-Israel
advocacy that we have become accustomed to from HRW.

Last week, Human Rights Watch officials were in Gaza, meeting with Hamas and
purportedly discussing rockets and torture. Such engagement with terror
groups in no way "balances" false allegations and invented versions of
international law, which HRW wield as weapons in its attacks against Israel.

To expect a sporting organization such as FIFA to draw borders regarding the
most contested geo-political conflict of the modern era is absurd. FIFA
should not allow external anti-Israel advocacy and BDS groups, such as HRW,
to determine the rules of the game.

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NGO Monitor provides information and analysis, promotes accountability, and
supports discussion on the reports and activities of NGOs (non-governmental
organizations) claiming to advance human rights and humanitarian agendas.
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