B'Tselem (Hebrew: בצלם, "in the image of", as in Genesis 1:27) is an Israeli non-governmental organization (NGO). It calls itself "The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories". The group was founded on February 3, 1989 by a group of prominent Israeli public figures, including lawyers, academics, journalists, and members of the Knesset.
B'Tselem's stated goals are "to document and educate the Israeli public and policymakers about human rights violations in the Occupied Territories, combat the phenomenon of denial prevalent among the Israeli public, and help create a human rights culture in Israel". In December 1989 the organization shared the Carter-Menil Human Rights Prize with the Palestinian group, Al-Haq. Its executive director is Jessica Montell.
The group has come under intense criticism from elements among Israel's nationalist camp; Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman charged the group with abetting terrorism and weakening Israel's defense forces.
Read more about B'Tselem: History, Main Activities, Main Research Areas, Report On Rockets From Gaza, Board Members, Staff, Funding, Critical Commentary and Response, Representative Publications