"Ten Reasons Why you should read the Human Rights Watch Report
by Gila Ansell Brauner
http://www.hrw.org/reports/2002/isrl-pa/

Published in 7 languages, including English, French, Spanish, Russian and Arabic. 172 pages in pdf, or online html.

Important points:

1. Very lengthy pages, but the first international document of consequence with a major focus on the "suicide" bombing phenomenon and other attacks on civilians in Israel and Israeli communities, defining them as crimes against humanity and war crimes;
2. It features not only the death-toll, but interviews the injured, with follow-up over time.
3. Addresses the PA, the inaction through its criminal justice system and law enforcement (page 01, page 07);
4. Discusses the individual terror organizations and their crimes (page 02, also perpetrators again on page 05);
5. Addresses and refutes terrorist organizations' and other claims that there might be any legitimacy for these attacks on civilians - whether because of conditions and quality of life, or because of the location of Israeli civilians in settlements; rejects that Israeli civilians in settlements can be classed as non-civilians and that all Israelis can be classed as "Reservists";
6. The financial report is the counter to all the shilly-shallying by various prestigious international and US bodies to the fact that there is no tracking of Tanzim/Martyrs' Brigades funds back to the PA, but the wording is cautious: "appears to be" (page 06) and the term "alleged" qualifies any Saudi charity funding connection to Hamas;
7. Clear separation of victims and perpetrators; civilians and combattants in the records (Appendix 1);
8. Information is well charted (Appendix 2);
9. There are lots of references to the Geneva Convention and its different protocols;
10. It turns the legal tables on terrorists for indictable crimes under International Law and addresses the legal rights of Israeli civilians, wherever they may live.

Other Notes:

11. About Israel:
It makes valid points to Israel, about not targeting law enforcement facilities in the PA and jails and signing the 1977 additional protocol to the Geneva Convention (page 01);

Reservations:

12. It calls Palestinian terrorists "militants" (page 03).
13. It does not challenge the misuse of PA funds as donations from western governments, too.

Points to Ponder:

1. How could this resource assist you in addressing anti-Israel propaganda?

2. Do you have any points to add? [Write to us @]