January 2007

[In our December issue, Works In Progress published an article by Norman Finkelstein in which he challenged Human Rights Watch for the statement addressed in this press release from HRW.]

Human Rights Watch press release, December 16, 2006

We regret that our press release, "OPT: Civilians Must Not Be Used to Shield Homes Against Military Attacks," gave many readers the impression that we were criticizing civilians for engaging in nonviolent resistance. This was not our intention. It is not the policy of the organization to criticize non-violent resistance or any other form of peaceful protest, . . .

December 2006

by Norman G. Finkelstein

Even by the grim standards of Gaza, the past five months have been cruel ones.

Some four hundred Palestinians, mostly unarmed civilians, have been killed during Israeli attacks. (Four Israeli soldiers and two civilians have been killed.) Israel has sealed off Gaza from the outside world while the international community has imposed brutal sanctions, ravaging Gaza's already impoverished economy.