ACTION ALERT FROM STANDWITHUS - International Library Association
The International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) will be holding a meeting at the Ramallah Center for Human Rights Studies (RCHRS), March 31 to April 2, 2008: "Libraries from a Human Rights Perspective."
Despite its name and stated mission, the RCHRS is not a human rights group. It is a political organization that promotes anti-Israel distortions and propaganda, incites intolerance, and praises terrorists.
Furthermore, the RCHRS is silent about the Palestinians' destruction of libraries, book stores and internet cafes in Gaza, and about the censorship in the PA, which should be a central IFLA concern. The IFLA should not affiliate with a group that runs counter to its own mission and violates its founding purpose: to "promote high standards of provision and delivery of library and information services."
In holding this conference with RCHRS, the IFLA is dragging its members into a highly charged, anti- Israel propaganda campaign, endorsing extremist positions, and implicitly supporting the suppression of information services.
Please write a protest letter to:
Claudia Lux, President
International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA)
P.O. Box 95312
2509 CH The Hague
Netherlands
E-mail: IFLA@ifla.org
Additional information for your letter:
The following information is contained in NGO Monitor's recent analysis of the Ramallah Center for Human Rights Studies:
"NGO Monitor's analysis demonstrates that, despite its stated mission to develop internal norms of Palestinian democracy and respect for human rights, some of its statements focus on condemnations of Israel, and its activities often contribute to conflict and fail to condemn violence. For example, RCHRS has often referred to Palestinian terrorists as 'martyrs'. Following the March 2002 suicide bombing attacks and the Israeli response, RCHRS issued a statement promoting the false claim that Israel committed "massacres" in Jenin and Nablus. RCHRS has also accused Israel of 'terrirorist [sic] crimes,' and making children the 'sacrifice for the racial hatred [sic].'
As a political organization, RCHRS consistently calls for ' pressure on the Israeli Government' to 'deter it from violating the international law,' and has stated that ' all world countries should adhere to their ethical and political responsibilities in putting an end to the Israeli racial aggression.' Such rhetoric clearly reflects an extreme anti-Israel political position, which ignores RCHRS' mandate to promote 'a culture of tolerance and respect for human rights,' and does not contribute to mutual understanding and conflict resolution.
In addition, RCHRS is an active member of the the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network (PNGO), which plays a major role in promoting campaigns to delegitimize and demonize Israel. These activities include the NGO Forum of the 2001 Durban conference, which promoted demonization and boycotts, divestment and sanctions against Israel, and has been widely renounced as a form of political warfare."