Amnesty International UK’s newly released report accusing Israel of ‘apartheid’ is a “shameful misrepresentation of Israel’s diverse and dynamic society,” says the Israeli Embassy in the UK, describing the report as antisemitic.

“As a proud democracy, we looked for nuance but found only falsehood and distortion. This antisemitic reports recycles lies instead of seeking truth and consolidates bad-faith attacks from those who seek to demonise the State of Israel.” 

In a 211-page report formally released on Tuesday morning, the London-based international human rights group said Palestinians were treated as an “inferior racial group and systematically deprived of their rights”. The group, which has a track record of smears against Israel, said Britain should commit to a “major re-assessment” of its foreign policy towards Israel.

Yair Lapid, Israel’s foreign minister, said Amnesty was “just another radical organisation which echoes propaganda, without seriously checking the facts”.

A statement by the foreign ministry added that the report “denies the state of Israel’s right to exist as the nation state of the Jewish people.”

“Its extremist language and distortion of historical context were designed to demonise Israel and pour fuel onto the fire of antisemitism.”

The Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council launched a scathing attack on the charity accusing Amnesty of a “preposterous slur,” in its description of Israel as an “apartheid” state. 

A joint statement from the Board President and JLC said: “We are shocked but not surprised by the content given the history of AI UK’s one-sided positioning on Israel.

“The report is completely biased and applies standards to Israel that are not applied to any other country. The emotive term “apartheid” against Israel is a preposterous slur. Israel is a vibrant democracy and a state for all its citizens, as exemplified by its diverse government and robust civil society.” 

The Board and JLC added: “Despite AI UK’s claim to recognise the Jewish claim to self-determination, the report makes clear both through its lamenting of the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 and through its policy recommendations, that it does not support that right. The State of Israel was established with broad international support and survived early attempts at destruction. There are still many who insist on punishing Israel for its very survival. Jewish communities across the world see too clearly through these attempts and reject them.” 

 

 

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