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Amnesty and MSM Muddy the Waters
Amnesty International released a report accusing Israel of illegally denying water to the Palestinians. Once again, the non-governmental organization is enjoying a halo effect where journalists report the accusations without question.
Yet the report is raising troubling questions about Amnesty:
- Officials at the Israeli Water Authority told the Jerusalem Post they were never given an opportunity to present information to Amnesty researchers, nor respond to the Palestinian allegations. They also say the report's figures are deeply flawed.
- NGO-Monitor claims Amnesty's report was timed to boost a campaign to boycott Israel. Indeed, a US speaking tour kicks off next week with Omar Barghouti addressing the Loyola Law School in LA on the topic -- surprise, surprise -- "Palestine: Thirsting for Justice. Israel’s Control of Water as a Tool of Apartheid and a Means of Ethnic Cleansing."
In addition to the widespread publicity afforded by AP, Reuters, and the BBC, Amnesty and the boycott movement scored a bonus with the Times of London, thanks to this over-the-top headline:
Robin Shepherd weighs in. See also The Issue of of Water Between and the Palestinians (pdf format), a document published in March by the Israeli Water Authority.
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I recently visited Israel and when speaking to an old Israeli friend who lives in a settlement in the West Bank he bemoaned the fact that the lawn he carefully nurtured for 35 years was dying because of water restrictions.
I also spoke to a couple who were living in Ramallah, the man being Palestinian and his wife Norwegian who told me that they had water turned on for only 2 or 3 consecutive days of the week which they found hard to cope with. They said that the water was turned off the rest of the time because of the control of the Israeli authorities. I am sure they were tellinig the truth about the provision of water but whether or not they were correct in who was to blame I do not know.
However I do know that such disparity in water provision between Jewish settlers and Palestinians can only worsen relations between the 2 communities and diminish Israel in the eyes of many in the outside world
Posted by: stephen - London at Oct 27, 2009 5:18:21 PM
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