U.S. weighs labeling leading human rights groups ‘anti-Semitic’

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is pushing for the declaration, according to a congressional aide with contacts inside the State Department.

By NAHAL TOOSI
10/21/2020 03:42 PM EDT

The Trump administration is considering declaring that several prominent international NGOs — including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Oxfam — are anti-Semitic and that governments should not support them, two people familiar with the issue said.

The proposed declaration could come from the State Department as soon as this week. If the declaration happens, it is likely to cause an uproar among civil society groups and might spur litigation. Critics of the possible move also worry it could lead other governments to further crack down on such groups. The groups named, meanwhile, deny any allegations that they are anti-Semitic.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is pushing for the declaration, according to a congressional aide with contacts inside the State Department. Pompeo is eyeing a future presidential run and has taken a number of steps to gain favor with pro-Israel and evangelical voters who make up a key part of Trump’s electoral base.

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The report would cite such groups’ alleged or perceived support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which has targeted Israel over its construction of settlements on land Palestinians claim for a future state.

It’s also expected to point to reports and press statements such groups have released about the impact of Israeli settlements, as well as their involvement or perceived support for a United Nations database of businesses that operate in disputed territories.

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Trump administration to declare Amnesty, NGOs antisemitic - report

‘Amnesty International is deeply committed to fighting antisemitism and all forms of hate worldwide,’ NGO responds.

By SARAH CHEMLA OCTOBER 22, 2020 19:18

The human-rights organizations Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Oxfam are antisemitic, and governments should not support them, the US State Department is expected to declare soon.

In response to the anticipated announcement, T’ruah, a rabbinic human-rights organization that represents more than 2,000 rabbis, said: “Any US government declaration that these groups are antisemitic for criticizing the Israeli government is ridiculous, and contributes to the silencing of Israel’s human rights defenders.”

“The Trump administration’s smear of these three human rights organizations is yet one more example of this administration’s disregard for democracy and human rights at home and abroad,” T’ruah executive director Rabbi Jill Jacobs said Wednesday in a press release.

“In casting aspersion on longtime respected human rights organizations, the Trump administration joins an ignoble list of autocratic governments that have discredited, smeared and even banned their own internal human rights organizations,” she said.

“Actions such as these damage US democracy by threatening the transparency necessary to protect human rights. Human rights and civil society groups play a prophetic role, even if their words may not be ones governments want to hear,” Jacobs said.

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