Israel’s foreign ministry on Monday criticized a forthcoming report by Amnesty International UK accusing the country of apartheid, alleging that the human rights group is fueling anti-Semitism.
“Amnesty’s report, in effect, serves as a green light… to harm not only Israel, but Jews around the world,” a foreign ministry spokesman said in a obtained statement. by The Times of Israel.
“The extremist language and distortion of historical context were intended to demonize Israel and add fuel to the fires of anti-Semitism.”
The ministry urged Amnesty without releasing the report, which the online newspaper said will be presented Tuesday at 11 a.m. local time during a press conference at a Jerusalem hotel.
Titled “Israel’s Apartheid Against Palestinians: Cruel System of Domination and Crime Against Humanity,” the report documents alleged crimes committed by Israel against Palestinians.
Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid released his own statement criticizing the organization and the report.
Amnesty UK “is not a human rights organization, but just another radical organization that echoes propaganda without seriously checking the facts,” Lapid said.
“Instead of seeking the truth, Amnesty is repeating the same lies shared by terrorist organizations.”
Lapid said the allegations in the report are “insane and disconnected from reality”.