The US Quits on Human Rights

by Mitchell Plitnick In a move that seemed very likely when Donald Trump was elected president and was cemented when he appointed Nikki Haley as ambassador to the United Nations, the United States withdrew from the United Nations Human Rights… Continue Reading

Understanding Netanyahu’s Rejection of the Arab Peace Initiative

by Mitchell Plitnick On Monday, just two weeks after saying that he accepted the “general idea” of the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative (API), Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected it as a basis for talks with the Palestinians. This rejection… Continue Reading

Human Rights Double Standard: Iran and Saudi Arabia

by Shireen T. Hunter   The question of how to help promote human rights globally has always had a political dimension. States often press these issues in the case of those countries of which they disapprove and ignore or downplay… Continue Reading

Saudis Exert Pressure to Escape UN Backlist

by Thalif Deen Saudi Arabia, which is leading a military coalition accused of indiscriminate bombings in war-ravaged Yemen, has escaped a UN “list of shame” for its dubious role as a serial violator of children’s rights in its ongoing military… Continue Reading

Silencing Critics of Israel

by James J. Zogby Israel doesn’t accept criticism. In fact, whether from friend or foe, even mild criticism is viewed as an existential threat prompting Israeli officials to unleash a torrent of abuse in an effort to silence and/or punish… Continue Reading