"Israel is held to a double standard."

Supporters argue that “Israel is held to a double standard,” asserting it receives disproportionate criticism in international forums, media coverage, and legal actions compared to other countries with worse human rights records. They claim this bias stems from political agendas or antisemitism rather than factual assessments of Israeli actions.

Israel’s policies, including ongoing military occupation, settler expansion, and repeated large-scale offensives, do indeed invite international legal scrutiny and criticism. Holding a state accountable for violations does not constitute prejudice; it reflects adherence to universal human rights norms.

Labeling criticism as double standard often preemptively blocks accountability. Other states with similar or worse abuses may evade scrutiny due to geopolitical alliances, but this does not invalidate concerns about Israel. The focus on Israel reflects the scale, severity, and consequences of its actions for Palestinians, not institutional bias.