Israel Matzav

Robert Bernstein on Human Rights Watch on Robert Bernstein

You will recall that last week, I posted a New York Times op-ed by Human Rights Watch founder Robert Bernstein in which he castigated Human Rights Watch for its vilification of Israel. On October 21, the Times ran a response letter from Jane Olson, current chair of Human Rights Watch and Jonathan Fanton, past chair. This is Bernstein's response which, unfortunately, will not appear in the New York Times (I received it by email and have been asked to publicize it as widely as possible).

October 24 2009

In their October 21st letter to the editor, Jane Olson, current chair of Human Rights Watch and Jonathan Fanton, past chair wrote that they “were saddened to see Robert L. Bernstein argue that Israel should be judged by a different human rights standard than the rest of the world.” This is not what I believe or what I wrote in my op-ed piece.

I believe that Israel should be judged by the highest possible standard and I have never argued anything else. What is more important than what I believe, or what Human Rights Watch believes, is that Israelis themselves believe they should be held to the highest standard.

That is why they have 80 Human Rights organizations challenging their government daily. Does any other country in the Middle East have anything remotely near that? That is why they have a vibrant free press. Does any other country in the Middle East have anything remotely near that? That is why they have a democratically elected government. That is why they have a judiciary that frequently rules against the government, a politically active academia, multiple political societies, etc etc etc.

I have argued that open societies , while far from perfect, have ways to correct themselves and that is particularly true in the case of Israel. Millions of Arabs, on the other hand, live in societies where there is little respect for or protection of human rights.

The current argument is whether Human Rights Watch’s facts and judgments about the Gaza conflict are correct.That is certainly a necessary and legitimate discussion.
I should add that over the years I have had the highest regard for Human Rights Watch’s work around the world and from what I know, with the notable exception of the Middle East, that is still the case.

Robert L. Bernstein

Bernstein still has his head on straight.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:38 PM