By Shaun Sacks*
Palestinians exploit their children for Politics
In their desperate attempts to delegitimize Israel, Palestinian, South African, and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs), have been active in a campaign that exploits Palestinian children for political gain.
This campaign, known as “No Way to Treat a Child,” is just the latest incarnation of attempts by pro-BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanctions) groups seeking to undermine Israel by falsely accusing it of violating the rights of Palestinian minors.
A drawing depiciting the BDS movement Photo Credit: NGO Monitor
While South African organizations like the Media Review Network (MRN) and the National Coalition for Palestine are leading local lobbying and social media actions, the group fueling the campaign is a Palestinian NGO, Defense for Children International – Palestine (DCI-P). A cursory glance of DCI-P’s current and former board members and employees reveals links to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) – an EU designated terror group.
In addition, NGO Monitor research shows that, unsurprisingly, this campaign relies heavily on false and misleading allegations about the IDF and Israeli military courts.
Masters of Misleading
Israeli NGOs, too, play a role and similarly spread distortions. So called “human rights” organizations, like B’Tselem and HaMoked, release statements and edit videos alleging that the detention of Palestinian minors reflects a “systematic” and “extensive” abuse of children. Completely missing from any of these critiques is the context of heightened Palestinian violence and terrorism, including attacks perpetrated by minors. Or that “extensive” is really referring to less than 0.1% of Palestinian minors.
These NGO claims are repeatedly echoed in select media outlets. For example, in December, Al Jazeera’s AJ+ posted a video, alleging that Israel “systematically harasses and abuses Palestinian kids.” The video quotes an employee of Human Rights Watch claiming that “Israel has no reason to arrest minors” – regardless of the fact that minors have carried out violent attacks, including murder. In South Africa, where the justice system is scarcely coping with rampant levels of juvenile crime, the idea that minors cannot face arrest would be deemed preposterous.
Many NGOs support the BDS movement. Photo Credit: www.alaraby.co.uk
Yet, this is the kind of absurdity being supported by organizations like SA Jews for a Free Palestine (SAJFP).
Among the outrageous distortions is the claim that Palestinian minors are “subject to solitary confinement” – a claim that directly echoes an April 2016 report from DCI-P. However, any instances of minors being held by themselves stems from Israel’s adherence to international standards that dictate that minors and adults should be held separately. When there is only one minor in the facility, of course he or she will be placed alone, not with adults. Israel’s separation of minors from adult detainees is geared toward protecting children, yet absurdly, “human rights” groups twist the truth in order to falsely accuse Israel of a crime for their own political gain.
This and other Israeli procedures are consistent with international laws and norms that protect the rights of children and acknowledge the prerequisites of a justice system that stops violence and punish perpetrators.
Ahed Tamimi the poster child of the BDS movement Photo Credit: almasdarnews.com
Look in the Mirror
Curiously, “No Way to Treat a Child” gained social media popularity following the release of a video showing Ahed Tamimi, a young Palestinian, attempting to provoke Israeli soldiers by hitting and slapping them in front of a camera. The fact that the Israeli soldiers respond with professional restraint is irrelevant to the malicious propaganda at the heart “No Way to Treat a Child.”
Palestinian minors are encouraged to endanger themselves in the hopes of provoking a violent response that will help demonize Israel. For South Africa’s Israel haters, a detained or injured Palestinian teenager is far more valuable than ensuring his/her protection and wellbeing.
The anti-Israel campaign’s name – “No Way to Treat a Child” – is ironic.
If Palestinian parents only looked in the mirror they would see the campaign applies first and foremost to themselves:
‘NO WAY TO TREAT OUR CHILDREN!’
*Shaun Sacks in a researcher at NGO Monitor, an independent research institute which provides information and analysis, promotes accountability and supports discussion on the reports and activities of NGOs claiming to advance human rights and humanitarian agendas.
Before joining NGO Monitor, Shaun was the senior project manager for NETSOURCE, an Israeli firm that specializes in providing technology employment opportunities to Ultra-Orthodox communities.
Shaun has spoken at parliamentary hearings and committee meetings in Israel, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and the Netherlands.
Shaun’s articles and op-eds have appeared in Ynet, the Jerusalem Post ,JTA and Danish 24NYT. Shaun has also appeared on Dutch Public Channel 2, Swedish TVE, Ynet TV News, Israel Channel 20 and i24.
