New York, NY, February 23, 2009 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today called an Amnesty International report "pernicious and biased" in its presentation of the Gaza conflict and recommendations calling for an arms embargo of Israel.

The report, "Fuelling Conflict: Foreign Arms Supplied to Israel/Gaza," examines the arms used by Israel in the Gaza conflict, and traces their origins by country.  The report calls for an investigation into possible violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law during Israel's military operations in Gaza and calls on the United Nations Security Council to impose an arms embargo on Israel. 

Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:

In calling for an arms embargo of Israel, Amnesty International is doing nothing short of denying Israel the right to self-defense, an internationally accepted right of every sovereign nation.  Indeed, with this pernicious and biased report, Amnesty International has now become the research arm for and a proponent of the extremist anti-Israel boycott, divestment and sanctions movement.

The manner in which Amnesty's "evidence" is presented and the tone of the report convey an obvious agenda to vilify Israel. This report provides little context to Israel's operation, does not mention that Israel's military actions in Gaza were defensive, nor does it acknowledge the efforts Israel made to spare civilians during its operations.

Instead, the report falsely and baldly states that Israel's "bombardments and other attacks were directed at civilians."  Analysis in the report of Hamas' actions is perfunctory and provides Amnesty with nothing more than a patina of objectivity that is belied by the unbalanced examination of Israel.  The report omits any mention of Hamas' use of civilian shields, or tactics of basing their operations in the midst of population centers, in mosques, hospitals, schools, and UN facilities.

Amnesty's blatant bias is revealed in its prejudicial declarations that Israel's military operations were "indiscriminate" and "indiscriminate attacks are war crimes," while feigning objectivity in calling for the United Nations to investigate events in Gaza as potential war crimes.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.