© www.haaretz.comMembers of B'Tselem protesting Israeli atrocities.
B'Tselem is an Israeli non-governmental organization (NGO), which was founded in 1989; one of its aims is to document human right's abuses in the occupied territories.Sar-Shalom Djerbi, the director of the Sherut Leumi, the national civilian service administration, which is responsible for the non-military options available to Israelis who don't won't to serve in the IDF said that B'Tselem had gone too far in its recent campaigning.
© electronicintifada.netB'Tselem's investigation leads to indictment of soldiers who abused Palestinians.
Djerbi set out his position in a letter to Hagai el-Ad, the executive director of B'Tselem.
"This is especially relevant now, when the State of Israel is dealing with the threat of thousands of rockets and missiles on millions of its citizens and is in the middle of a comprehensive campaign to remove the threat on its citizens," he wrote.
© unknownIn January 2007, B'Tselem launched its camera distribution project, a video advocacy project. We provide Palestinians living in high-conflict areas with video cameras, with the goal of bringing the reality of their lives under occupation to the attention of the Israeli and international public.
But Hagai el-Ad said the blacklisting was the latest in a campaign by the Israeli state of intimidation and threats against the rights group over the past three weeks, because of its vocal anti Gaza campaign.
Comment: B'Tselem endeavors to document and educate the Israeli public and policymakers about human rights violations in the Occupied Territories, combat the phenomena of denial prevalent among the Israeli public, and help create a human rights advocacy culture in Israel. (http://www.btselem.org/)
B'Tselem is independent and is funded by contributions from foundations in Europe and N. America that support human rights activity worldwide and by private individuals in Israel and abroad.
They have gained a reputation for accuracy and do their own fieldwork, research and cross checking to ensure reliability. B'T publishes scores of reports covering rights violations, torture, fatal shootings by security forces, restriction on movement, expropriation of land, discrimination, detention and settler violence. They regularly provide Knesset members with information, assisting in placing human rights matters on the agenda.
They advocate for accountability, prosecuting Israeli land-grabs, and Palestinian rights to their land, free movement and self-determination. Their list of press releases attests to the integrity of this organization and the "threat" they pose on the Israeli empirical agenda and status-quo.
Perhaps there is a ray of hope, conscience and sanity out there...but for how long?