B'Tselem (Hebrew בצלם, "in the image of", as in Genesis 1:27)_ The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories was founded in 1989 by a group of Israeli public figures, attorneys, academics, journalists, and Members of Knesset. Its stated goals are to document and inform the Israeli public and policymakers about what it views as human rights violations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, to fight what it sees as "denial" (which it believes is common amongst Israelis), and to help inculcate a "human rights culture" in Israel.

B'Tselem has published over 100 reports on a wide variety of human rights issues, organized major public campaigns, and served as an important source of information for journalists, researchers and the diplomatic community at the national and international level. B'Tselem's activities receive extensive media coverage, generate public debate and encourage changes in official policy.

Criticism

It has been criticized by the anti-anti-Israeli NGO, NGO Monitor, for having a "political agenda" and using "outdated sources" and "abusive and demonizing rhetoric designed to elicit political support for Palestinians". [1] (http://www.ngo-monitor.org/editions/v2n12/v2n12-4.htm)

External links

• B'Tselem official hompeage (http://www.btselem.org/)
• NGO Monitor's criticisms of B'Tselem (http://www.ngo-monitor.org/archives/infofile.htm#betselem)