Criticism of Israel

Israel has faced ongoing international criticism since its Independence in 1948 relating to a variety of topics, both current and historical. International criticism of current Israeli government policies relate to issues such as Israeli Settlements, human rights of Palestinian Arabs and accusations of economic strangulation of Palestinian territories. International criticism of historical Israeli government policies relate to issues with ongoing consequences such as the refusal to allow post-war Palestinian refugees to return to their homes, and the invasion, occupation and annexation of neighbouring territories and the construction of settlements therein. At one end of the spectrum, these criticisms support attempts to delegitimize Israel's right to exist. This has led to an ongoing debate regarding at what point criticism of Israel crosses the line in to antisemitism.
The reasons for the degree to which Israel is criticised are disputed.
Israel receives criticism at the United Nations. Since 2003, the UN has issued 232 resolutions with respect to Israel - 40% of all resolutions issued by the UN over the period and more than six times that of the second placed country, Sudan. In recent years, the Middle East was the subject of 76% of country-specific General Assembly resolutions, 100% of the Human Rights Council resolutions, 100% of the Commission on the Status of Women resolutions, 50% of reports from the World Food Program, 6% of Security Council resolutions and 6 of the 10 Emergency sessions. These decisions, passed with the support of the OIC countries, invariably criticize Israel for its treatment of Palestinians. For further details, see Israel, Palestine, and the United Nations and the List of United Nations resolutions concerning Israel.
International criticism is an important focus within Israel. According to an August 2010 survey by Tel Aviv University, more than half of Israelis believe "the whole world is against us", and three quarters of Israelis believe "that no matter what Israel does or how far it goes towards resolving the conflict with the Palestinians, the world will continue to criticize Israel". As a result, public diplomacy, known as hasbara, has been an important focus of Israeli governments since Independence. The Israeli Ministry of Public Diplomacy & Diaspora Affairs seeks to explain government policies and promote Israel in the face of what they consider negative press about Israel around the world - the current campaign is called Masbirim.
Critics
Within Israel
International Jewish Community
* Prophets Outcast: A Century of Dissident Jewish Writing about Zionism and Israel by Adam Shatz, 2004
* Radicals, Rabbis and Peacemakers: Conversations with Jewish Critics of Israel by Seth Farber, 2005
* With Friends Like These: The Jewish Critics of Israel by Edward Alexander, 1992
* Jewish Peace Activists: Noam Chomsky, Gerald Kaufman, Norman Finkelstein, Martin Buber, Refusal to Serve in the Israeli Military
* Is It Good for the Jews?: The Crisis of America's Israel Lobby by Stephen Schwartz, 2006
* The Invention of the Jewish People by Shlomo Sand and Yael Lotan
United Nations
Israel receives criticism at the United Nations. Since 2003, the UN has issued 232 resolutions with respect to Israel - 40% of all resolutions issued by the UN over the period and more than six times that of the second placed country, Sudan.<ref name="eyeontheunresolution"/> In recent years, the Middle East was the subject of 76% of country-specific General Assembly resolutions, 100% of the Human Rights Council resolutions, 100% of the Commission on the Status of Women resolutions, 50% of reports from the World Food Program, 6% of Security Council resolutions and 6 of the 10 Emergency sessions. These decisions, passed with the support of the OIC countries, invariably criticize Israel for its treatment of Palestinians.<ref name="eyeontheun.org"/> For further details, see Israel, Palestine, and the United Nations and the List of United Nations resolutions concerning Israel.
Boycotts and Disinvestment from Israel
Reasons for Criticism
Accusations of Singling Out
The reasons for the degree to which Israel is criticised are disputed.<ref name="Neumann"/><ref name="Ian Buruma"/><ref name="Edward C. Corrigan"/><ref name="Stephen Rosskamm Shalom"/><ref name="Editorial Comment"/><ref name="Richard Kuper"/>
Human Rights
International Law
Responses to Criticism
Israeli Public Diplomacy
International criticism is an important focus within Israel. According to an August 2010 survey by Tel Aviv University, more than half of Israelis believe "the whole world is against us", and three quarters of Israelis believe "that no matter what Israel does or how far it goes towards resolving the conflict with the Palestinians, the world will continue to criticize Israel".<ref name="peace index"/> As a result, public diplomacy, known as hasbara, has been an important focus of Israeli governments since Independence. The Israeli Ministry of Public Diplomacy & Diaspora Affairs seeks to explain government policies and promote Israel in the face of what they consider negative press about Israel around the world - the current campaign is called Masbirim.<ref name="masbirim"/>
Accusations of Anti-Semitism
Suppression of Criticism
List of Critics and Advocates of Israel

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