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Human Rights Watch accuses Israel of 'apartheid'

The leading international human rights watchdog cited Israel's treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza vis-a-vis Jewish Israelis. The Israeli government dismissed the report.
Israeli human rights activist Adi Dagan listens to an Israeli soldier as she waits for troops to allow Palestinian schoolchildren home through a gate in the security fence March 2, 2004, at the village of Jubara near the West Bank town of Tulkarem. The 300 Israeli women volunteers of the Machsom Watch group have appointed themselves to the task of monitoring the Israeli army, which operates about 65 manned and hundreds of unmanned checkpoints in the West Bank.

A leading human rights organization decided Tuesday to refer to Israel’s occupation of the Palestinian territories as "apartheid." The harsh criticism reflects growing criticism of Israeli policies toward Palestinians.

Human Rights Watch said Tuesday that Israel is committing “crimes against humanity of apartheid” in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, according to a press release. This is the first time the New York-based organization has used the term to refer to Israeli control of these areas.

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