14 February 2005
Medecins Du Monde and Physicians for Human Rights - Israel: Report Denouncing
Security Barrier Not Credible
Medecins du Monde, a Paris-based 'humanitarian medical NGO' was the subject
of an NGO
Monitor analysis in August 2003. It was noted that this organization,
commanding a €50 million budget, demonstrated an effort to provide
understanding of the complexities of the Middle East conflict from both an
Israeli and Palestinian perspective. However, Medecins du Monde has abandoned
its motto 'There are no right or wrong victims', joining with the highly
politicized Physicians
for Human Rights - Israel and the Palestine Red Crescent Society to launch
a campaign against Israel's security barrier.
Timed to coincide with the publication of Medecins du Monde's report "The
Ultimate Barrier: Impact of the Wall on the Palestinian health care
system", the three organizations held a joint press conference in Tel
Aviv on 14 February 2005 to present their common position.
Their statement questions the
legitimacy of Israel's reasons for the construction of the security barrier,
and uses the misleading term of "the Wall" (reminiscent of the
"apartheid wall" used by many NGOs in the demonization campaigns).
The report lacks credibility and fails to acknowledge the evidence
that the security barrier has reduced terrorist attacks, and the need for
such a barrier to defend the lives of Israeli citizens. Under the section
entitled "Context", the MDM report offers a one-sided Palestinian
narrative. For example, without any explanation as to the reasons why, the
report claims that "the Wall deprives Palestinians of adequate access to
basic services such as water and education, as well as sources of income such
as agriculture and other forms of employment. The Wall has steadily added
another layer of obstacles isolating, fragmenting and therefore weakening the
already fragile Palestinian healthcare system."
The report continues in this one-sided vein through its methodology which
involved the collection of 83 "testimonies in the field" in order to
""give voice" to the people who have no voice and who are faced
with the Wall". Using the excuse of anonymity, these testimonies lack
credibility, and cannot be verified.
The question of credibility also arises from the use of politicized NGOs as
sources. The report quotes the Palestinian
Environmental NGO Network (PENGON), composed of many members whose focus is
primarily on attacking Israel. MDM also relies on the evidence of the highly
ideological Israeli
Committee Against House Demolitions, whose reports lack credibility and
focus on demonizing Israel.
Further highlighting the political objective of this activity, the three
partner organizations "also firmly denounce all other factors and tactics
of occupation which restrict the Palestinians' right to live and move freely in
the Palestinian territories. It violates both international human rights and
international humanitarian law." Relying on the biased advisory opinion of
the International Court of Justice on the security barrier,
the criticism of Israeli measures to restrict Palestinian freedom of movement
again ignores Palestinian terrorism. With the involvement of the Palestine Red
Crescent Society, the report criticizes IDF searches of ambulances, ignoring
the documented abuse of medical facilities and vehicles in Palestinian terror
attacks. Another accusation leveled at Israel is that "By annexing the
West Bank's water resources and most fertile land and separating the
Palestinians from their work in Israel, the Wall also reinforces unemployment
and poverty". These claims are not backed by reliable evidence and are
outside the claimed purview of the NGOs.
In summary, this report, and the activities of Medecins du Monde, partnered
with PHR-I, reflects the abuse of medical issues and human rights in order to
promote their anti-Israel political goals.