Changes

===1998-2006===

===1998-2006===

In 1998, Human Rights Watch united all of its “Watch” groups under the United States based HRW in 1988.  They led the effort of non-governmental organizations in pressuring the United States to enter [[Kosovo]] to stop the 'genocide'. When [[NATO]] and the United States began their operation, HRW was one of the most critical organizations of its handling. They frequently wrote articles on the abuses carried out by the United States in their use of [[cluster bombs]]. <ref> HRW, “NATO's Use of Cluster Munitions in Yugoslavia”, 1999, http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/kosovo98/cluster.shtml </ref>

In 1998, Human Rights Watch united all of its “Watch” groups under the United States based HRW in 1988.  They led the effort of non-governmental organizations in pressuring the United States to enter [[Kosovo]] to stop the 'genocide'. When [[NATO]] and the United States began their operation, HRW was one of the most critical organizations of its handling. They frequently wrote articles on the abuses carried out by the United States in their use of [[Cluster Bombs]]. <ref> HRW, “NATO's Use of Cluster Munitions in Yugoslavia”, 1999, http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/kosovo98/cluster.shtml </ref>

After [[September 11, 2001]] terrorist attacks on the United States, HRW called for the United States to settle the terrorist attacks as a legal matter, rather then using military force to wipe out the [[Taliban]]. <ref> Discover the Networks, http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=6258</ref> HRW endorsed the [[Civil Liberties Restoration Act of 2004]] <ref>Summary: Civil Liberties Restoration Act of 2004by The Rights Working Group, http://www.bordc.org/threats/legislation/clrasummary.php</ref>,a bill that would take away vital tools that the United States enacted after the September 11th attacks.  HRW has been critical of both of the United States recent operations in [[Iraq]] and [[Afghanistan]]. A HRW report alleged that there was, “excessive use of force by U.S. troops.” They state that they were, "deeply concerned about the consistent reports we are getting about women, children and unarmed civilians being killed." Even though they admitted that they did not have complete reports from the ground in Iraq. <ref> Discover the Networks, http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=6258</ref>   

After [[9-11|September 11, 2001]] terrorist attacks on the United States, HRW called for the United States to settle the terrorist attacks as a legal matter, rather then using military force to wipe out the [[Taliban]]. <ref> Discover the Networks, http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=6258</ref> HRW endorsed the [[Civil Liberties Restoration Act of 2004]] <ref>Summary: Civil Liberties Restoration Act of 2004by The Rights Working Group, http://www.bordc.org/threats/legislation/clrasummary.php</ref>,a bill that would take away vital tools that the United States enacted after the September 11th attacks.  HRW has been critical of both of the United States recent operations in [[Iraq]] and [[Afghanistan]]. A HRW report alleged that there was, “excessive use of force by U.S. troops.” They state that they were, "deeply concerned about the consistent reports we are getting about women, children and unarmed civilians being killed." Even though they admitted that they did not have complete reports from the ground in Iraq. <ref> Discover the Networks, http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/groupProfile.asp?grpid=6258</ref>   

===2006-2007===

===2006-2007===

The Israeli conflict with the Palestinians and Hezbollah has brought about serious question of HRW objectivity. During the span of four years, from October 2000 to April 2004, HWR has written 103 reports, the vast majority of these reports condemned Israe<ref>“NGOs Make War on Israel” Gerald M. Steinberg

The Israeli conflict with the Palestinians and Hezbollah has brought about serious question of HRW objectivity. During the span of four years, from October 2000 to April 2004, HWR has written 103 reports, the vast majority of these reports condemned Israe<ref>“NGOs Make War on Israel” Gerald M. Steinberg

Middle East Quarterly Summer 2004, http://www.meforum.org/article/633</ref>

Middle East Quarterly Summer 2004, http://www.meforum.org/article/633</ref>

l. During the same time the organization only wrote thirty highlighting the Palestinian terror attack. According to Gerald M. Steinberg, a research associate at the BESA Center for Strategic Studies, HRW has ignored the  terrorist suicide attacks designed to  kill innocent civilians, while criticizing Israel for a, “policy of targeted killing of terrorist leaders, such as Hamas leaders Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ar-Rantisi<ref>“NGOs Make War on Israel” Gerald M. Steinberg

l. During the same time the organization only wrote thirty highlighting the Palestinian terror attack. According to Gerald M. Steinberg, a research associate at the BESA Center for Strategic Studies, HRW has ignored the  terrorist suicide attacks designed to  kill innocent civilians, while criticizing Israel for a, “policy of targeted killing of terrorist leaders, such as [[Hamas]] leaders Sheikh Ahmed Yassin and ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ar-Rantisi<ref>“NGOs Make War on Israel” Gerald M. Steinberg

Middle East Quarterly Summer 2004, http://www.meforum.org/article/633</ref>

Middle East Quarterly Summer 2004, http://www.meforum.org/article/633</ref>

.”  He goes on to state in his that, “The political bias of non-governmentally organizations on the Middle East, coupled with their lack of public accountability and transparency, is beginning to chip away at their credibility<ref>“NGOs Make War on Israel” Gerald M. Steinberg

.”  He goes on to state in his that, “The political bias of non-governmentally organizations on the Middle East, coupled with their lack of public accountability and transparency, is beginning to chip away at their credibility<ref>“NGOs Make War on Israel” Gerald M. Steinberg

Middle East Quarterly Summer 2004, http://www.meforum.org/article/633</ref>

Middle East Quarterly Summer 2004, http://www.meforum.org/article/633</ref>

.” In 2006, HRW released a 50 page report, "Fatal Strikes: Israel's Indiscriminate Attacks Against Civilians in [[Lebanon]]," which covered civilians deaths they claimed were caused by Israel in their conflict with the terrorist group [[Hezbollah]]. Israel stated that the many of the deaths were caused by Hezbollah’s use of civilian areas and human shield. HRW stated that there was no evidence that Hezbollah used human shields, but this notion was widely known as untrue. Well focusing on Israel’s “indiscriminate bombing”, HRW failed to report significantly on Hezbollah’s launching of 2,000 rockets at civilian areas. HRW criticized Israel’s building of a fence in the West Bank, calling it part of an, "illegal" land grab<ref>NGO Monitor, 2005, http://www.ngo-monitor.org/archives/news/HRWLetter-NYSun.htm</ref>. Anthony Weiner, a Democrat Congressman, was shocked at the idiosyncrasy of the charges, he stated, "Given that the security fence has inarguably reduced terrorism and death by would-be Palestinian bombers, it seems any organization truly concerned about human rights should be supporting Israel's right to construct it”<ref>NGO Monitor, 2005, http://www.ngo-monitor.org/archives/news/HRWLetter-NYSun.htm</ref>. Even a liberal newsmagazine, [[The New Republic]], could not resist the slant of HRW coverage<ref> Rosa Brooks on Criticism of Human Rights Watch, Kevin Jon Heller, http://www.opiniojuris.org/posts/1157149379.shtml</ref>

.” In 2006, HRW released a 50 page report, "Fatal Strikes: Israel's Indiscriminate Attacks Against Civilians in [[Lebanon]]," which covered civilians deaths they claimed were caused by Israel in their conflict with the terrorist group [[Hezbollah]]. Israel stated that the many of the deaths were caused by Hezbollah’s use of civilian areas and human shield. HRW stated that there was no evidence that Hezbollah used human shields, but this notion was widely known as untrue. Well focusing on Israel’s “indiscriminate bombing”, HRW failed to report significantly on Hezbollah’s launching of 2,000 rockets at civilian areas. HRW criticized Israel’s building of a fence in the West Bank, calling it part of an, "illegal" land grab<ref>NGO Monitor, 2005, http://www.ngo-monitor.org/archives/news/HRWLetter-NYSun.htm</ref>. [[Anthony Weiner]], a Democrat Congressman, was shocked at the idiosyncrasy of the charges, he stated, "Given that the security fence has inarguably reduced terrorism and death by would-be Palestinian bombers, it seems any organization truly concerned about human rights should be supporting Israel's right to construct it”<ref>NGO Monitor, 2005, http://www.ngo-monitor.org/archives/news/HRWLetter-NYSun.htm</ref>. Even a liberal newsmagazine, [[The New Republic]], could not resist the slant of HRW coverage<ref> Rosa Brooks on Criticism of Human Rights Watch, Kevin Jon Heller, http://www.opiniojuris.org/posts/1157149379.shtml</ref>

. David Horowitz, professor of law at Harvard Law School, stated that Human Rights Watch was a, "reflexive Israel-basher … who, in his zest to pillory Israel at every turn, is little more than an ally of the barbarians<ref> Rosa Brooks on Criticism of Human Rights Watch, Kevin Jon Heller, http://www.opiniojuris.org/posts/1157149379.shtml</ref>."

. [[David Horowitz]], professor of law at [[Harvard Law School]], stated that Human Rights Watch was a, "reflexive Israel-basher … who, in his zest to pillory Israel at every turn, is little more than an ally of the barbarians<ref> Rosa Brooks on Criticism of Human Rights Watch, Kevin Jon Heller, http://www.opiniojuris.org/posts/1157149379.shtml</ref>."

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