The European Union is a major financier of NGOs operating in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Many of these NGOs pursue particular political agendas and participate in activities that inflame hostilities under the guise of promoting human rights, democracy and development. These activities contradict the stated objectives of the NGOs themselves and those of the European Commission (EC). 


DG AIDCO, the EC office responsible for disbursing funds for development, provides money to NGOs through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) and the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership for Peace (PfP). DG ECHO, the European Community Humanitarian Office, is the other primary office responsible for funding NGOs. 


EU-funded political NGOs under PfP include ICAHD, ARIJ, MIFTAH, Machsom Watch and I'lam. EIDHR funded political NGOs include Adalah, Holy Land Trust and the Euro-Med Human Rights Network.  ECHO has provided funding to Caritas, Care International (UK), Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) and Sticting Oxfam Novib. EU-funded NGOs whose activities are more consistent with their stated objectives include The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, Bitterlemons.org and Internews Europe .

 

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