Another Reason Not to Trust the ‘Experts’ The International Association of Genocide Scholars calls itself a body of experts, but joining requires only a form and a fee. Members include parody accounts like ‘Mo Cookie' and ‘Emperor Palpatine.’
Palestinians carrying essential belongings flee their houses after Israel issued new evacuation orders in Beit Lahia, Gaza Strip, on November 5, 2024. (Mahmoud ssa/Anadolu via Getty Images)
One of the great lessons of the past decade is that when you read a variation of “experts say” in a headline, you ought to think twice and for yourself. This week, the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) voted on a resolution that accused Israel of committing genocide in its war against Hamas. Like moths to a flame, the mainstream press ran wild with the story of the organization’s declaration. “Israel Is Committing Genocide in Gaza, Leading Scholars’ Association Says,” ran the headline in The Washington Post. The Guardian quoted the president of the association, Melanie O’Brien, declaring that the resolution represented “a definitive statement from experts in the field of genocide studies that what is going on on the ground in Gaza is genocide.” In another interview with ABC News Australia, O’Brien boasted that the resolution passed with nearly 90 percent support. The BBC’s headline read: “Israel Committing Genocide in Gaza, World’s Leading Experts Say.” The problem for these publications is that if you kick the tires—even slightly—it becomes obvious that the resolution is a sham, top to bottom...
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