ISRAEL COMMITTING ‘APARTHEID’: WHAT THE NEW CHARGE MEANS
Human Right Watch, a rights watchdog, on Tuesday accused Israel of pursuing policies of ‘apartheid’ and ‘persecution’ against Palestinians and against its own Arabs, claiming it amounted to ‘crimes against humanity’. Here’s a look at the report, its conclusions, and where things stand
THE HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH REPORT
US-based HRW published a 213-page report that, it said, wasn’t aimed at comparing Israel with apartheid-era South Africa, but at assessing “whether specific acts and policies” constitute apartheid under international law. Israel sought to maintain hegemony over Palestinians from Jordan River to Mediterranean Sea, the report claims.
THE GROUND REALITY
Palestinians seek West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem - areas captured in the 1967 conflict, for a future state. Under interim peace deals with Israel, they have limited self-rule in West Bank. Hamas, meanwhile, controls Gaza.
‘PREPOSTEROUS AND FALSE’
Israel's foreign ministry trashed the watchdog’s report as "both preposterous and false". It accused HRW of harbouring an "anti-Israeli agenda", saying the monitor only sought "to promote boycotts against Israel".
DAMNING CONCLUSION
According to HRW, its “report concludes that Israeli officials have committed the crimes against humanity of apartheid and persecution”, as defined under 1973 Apartheid Convention and 1998 Rome Statute.