German government funding for blatant anti-Israel propaganda conference in Berlin July 7

On July 7, 2014, Brot für die Welt – Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (EED) and Misereor (a German, Catholic humanitarian framework) are holding a conference in Berlin on “The ICJ’s Wall Opinion Revisited: Towards its effective Implementation.” The event will “address the impact of the wall … on the human rights of the local population, … attempt to clarify the role of the United Nations and …the role of third parties in ensuring the implementation of the legal obligations described in the advisory opinion.”

Since the issuing of the ICJ’s non-binding and entirely politicized decision, the NGO network has sought to “enforce” it by filing frivolous universal jurisdiction lawsuits, lobbying at the International Criminal Court (ICC), and using it as a basis to have EU and European governments enact BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanctions) policies against Israel. The conference framework and the list of speakers (see below) reflect the blatant propagandistic nature of the event, as well as its exploitation of academic, human rights, and legal terminology. There is no mention of the context of terrorism in the construction of the security barrier,¹ or the numerous analyses demonstrating the political nature of the ICJ and the façade of international law, in general, and in this case in particular. The campaign against the barrier, including this conference, is part of the wider demonization movement targeting Israel through double standards and lawfare.

As documented in NGO Monitor’s detailed research report, Brot für die Welt – Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (BfW/EED) and Misereor have abused German taxpayer funds repeatedly for anti-Israel propaganda activities (see detailed funding information below).

Most of the speakers involved in this conference are affiliated with radical Palestinian NGOs, deeply involved in delegitimization, BDS, and lawfare targeting Israel:

• Shawan Jabarin – general director of Al Haq, a Palestinian NGO leader in lawfare and BDS activities. Jabarin has been denied exit visas by Israel and Jordan on several occasions due to alleged ties to the PFLP terrorist group. A June 2007 decision by the Israeli Supreme Court called Jabarin a “Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde,” a human rights campaigner by day and a terrorist by night. Jabarin participated in the session of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People – a core anti-Israel forum.
• Hamdi Shaqqura – Deputy Director for the Programs Affairs of the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR). For details of PCHR advocacy, see NGO Monitor’s website.
• Chantal Meloni  – worked closely with PCHR in its lobbying for ICC investigations into alleged Israeli war crimes (Meloni previously worked for PCHR as part of the organization’s “International Legal Unit) ; participated in a meeting of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. Participated as PCHR representative in ICC roundtable (2010) promoting the prosecution of Israelis.
• Manal Hazzan-Abu Sinni –head of the legal department of Society of St. Yves – see NGO Monitor’s website for details on Society of St. Yves political and legal campaigns against Israel.
• Vera Gowlland-Debbas –submitted remarks to the ICC on “the Legal Effects of Palestine’s Decleration Under Article 12(3) of the ICC Statute” during a 2010 roundtable discussion.  Debbas participated in a meeting of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People.  Speaker at Russell Tribunal on Palestine (New York) – see Deconstructing the Russell Tribunal on Palestine.

Brot für die Welt – EED is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, as well as the European Union. In 2012, Misereor received €113.8 million from the German federal budget.

Brot für die Welt – EED and Misereor funding to Israeli/Palestinian organizations (2010-2014):