New York, NY, March 1, 2007 … A report by the U.N.'s special rapporteur on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is "more a vicious screed than an official report," the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) says in a letter sent to top U.N. officials.

John Dugard's latest report on the conflict heaps accusations against the Jewish state, many of them unfounded, and claims that Israel's "racist" laws have their precedents in – and "certainly resemble aspects" of – apartheid South Africa.

"His blatant prejudices are apparent throughout the document," said Glen S. Lewy, ADL National Chair and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.  "The consistent theme that emerges from Mr. Dugard's report is demonizing Israel by outrageously describing Israel as the world's worst human rights violator."

ADL's letter to the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, which was copied to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, noted that the League has repeatedly called for Mr. Dugard's dismissal for the "biased unprofessionalism" reflected in his efforts to unfairly tarnish Israel's human rights record.

"It is a disgrace to the United Nations and its human rights mechanisms that Mr. Dugard continues to use his official position as a U.N. fact-finder to present his personal bias against the State of Israel," said Mr. Lewy and Mr. Foxman.  "Mr. Dugard's most recent report is more a vicious screed than an official report."

Mr. Dugard also claims that Israel's actions in the West Bank and Gaza are not motivated by security interests, but are intended "to establish and maintain domination by one racial group (Jews) over another racial group (Palestinians) and systematically oppressing them."

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.