TIPH in Hebron is just an example
Around two weeks ago, an activist “observer’” of the TIPH (Temporary International Presence in Hebron) organization was filmed attacking a Jewish child in Hebron. The incident was outrageous, but I was not surprised. I think that many others also felt I as I did. Shortly after that incident, another incident took place where a TIPH observer was allegedly also caught on film slashing the tires of a car belonging to Elad Pas, a Jewish resident of Hebron.
On the “About” page of the organization’s website, they state “TIPH observes and reports on breaches of the agreements between the Palestinian Authority and Israel on Hebron, as well as on violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law…. TIPH’s mandate states that TIPH is established to promote by their presence a feeling of security to the Palestinians of Hebron and to help to promote stability in the city.”
This organization that waves the flag of “human rights” has shown that it has far less respect for “human rights” when it comes to Jews. For many of us, unfortunately, this contradiction is not a new discovery.
I uncovered an example involving violence and torture as part of my job as an attorney. My office is currently representing 52 Palestinians who experienced harsh torture and abuse in the prisons of the Palestinian Authority after being suspected of collaborating with Israel by preventing terrorist attacks in which innocent people would be killed in the streets. We reached out to many human rights groups, who express constant concern for Palestinian rights, to help with this situation. Among those we contacted were Adallah, Physicians for Human Rights, Association of Civil Rights in Israel, Yesh-Din, Machsom Watch and others. None of them helped.
The conclusion that can be drawn from these examples is that human rights are not what interests these groups. Even Palestinian rights are not really what interests them. So one must ask what do they really want?
To truly understand, we have look outside of our borders. Around eight years ago, an organization called Lev HaOlam was founded to fight against the global boycott of Judea and Samaria. The boycott and BDS groups speak often about the alleged ‘apartheid’ taking place in Israel and about Palestinian rights supposedly being trampled. In the past, we would agree to attend debates with these activists at universities. However, we quickly understood that they have no desire to hear our side or truly understand. Instead, they shouted us down and tried to silence us.
In the end, we decided to focus on meeting face to face with people abroad who really want to know the facts and the truth on the ground. During these meetings, BDS activists also made sure to show up and protest outside our events or even disrupt the events from within. During a visit at the Dutch Parliament, a BDS activist violently attacked a reporter covering our conference.
In another conference in Europe, a boycott activist called me a ‘dirty Jew’ as I walked in the street. In the United States, I heard a man remark to his wife, “They make our land dirty, they pollute it.” These expressions, and many others, reveal the simple truth: all of the boycott organizations are rooted in antisemitism and hatred of Jews. Today, now that the Jews finally have a country, that hatred is redirected towards Israel. The incidents involving TIPH merely show that the antisemitism bubbling inside the observer finally “erupted” and he could no longer contain it.
Our experience with boycott organizations abroad and supposed human rights organizations in Israel that are funded by European governments shows that they have one common driving force: a deep and strong hatred for the Jewish state and people.
Once we finally realize that these groups’ concern is not about human rights, but rather a targeted fight directed against the Jewish people, we will be one step closer to being able to make peace.
The writer, an attorney, is founder of Lev HaOlam organization.