Spain

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  • Spanish funding to NGOs is highly decentralized, taking place at several levels of governance. Funds are managed and allocated by the central government, autonomous communities, provincial deputations, municipalities, and bar associations – and are usually channeled via highly politicized Spanish NGOs, reflecting deep political fissures and regional radicalization.
  • Spain provides millions of euros to highly politicized non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that promote anti-Israel narratives, including antisemitism, incitement, lawfare, and discriminatory BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanctions) Some of these groups also have ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) – a designated terrorist organization by the EUUSCanada, and Israel.
  • On June 28, 2017, NGO Monitor and ACOM presented a joint report on Spanish funding in the Spanish Parliament. At this event, MK Yair Lapid, Chair of the centrist Yesh Atid party, encouraged his counterparts in Spain to take steps to prevent counterproductive and detrimental government funding

Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID)

Palestinian NGOs funded through AECID

AECID Funding to Israeli NGOs

  • In 2020-2021, Breaking the Silence received NIS 155,262 from AECID.
    • Breaking the Silence makes sweeping accusations based on anecdotal, anonymous, and unverifiable accounts of often low-ranked soldiers. These “testimonies” lack context, are politically biased, and erase the complicated reality in the West Bank. In addition, they reflect a distorted interpretation of the conflict in order to advance the political agenda of Breaking the Silence activists, thereby fueling the international campaigns against Israel.
  • In 2020-2021, B’Tselem received NIS 59,214 from AECID.
  • In 2022, Yesh Din received NIS 534,900 from AECID.
    • Yesh Din is central to the allegations that Israeli investigative and court systems are unable or unwilling to investigate allegations of wrongdoing and is part of a wider “lawfare” strategy of pressing “war crimes” cases against Israeli officials in foreign courts and in the International Criminal Court (ICC). These campaigns use faulty information and skewed statistics to promote their political claims.
  • In 2019, Kerem Navot received NIS 30,861 from AECID.

Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)

  • In 2020, Spain provided NRC with $1,694,015 for NRC’s Information, Counseling and Legal Assistance (ICLA) program.
  • ICLA, one of NRC’s principle projects in Israel, exploits judicial frameworks to manipulate Israeli policy, bypassing democratic frameworks.
    • A lawyer affiliated with the NRC program stated that the objective of these cases are an attempt to “try every possible legal measure to disrupt the Israeli judicial system…as many cases as possible are registered and that as many cases as possible are appealed to increase the workload of the courts and the Supreme Court to such an extent that there will be a blockage” (emphasis added)

AECID Funding to Politicized NGOs Active in the Arab-Israeli Conflict

Year(s)PartnersAmount
2020-2022Mundubat, DCI-P, UPWC, JLAC€449,735
2019-2021UAWC€400,000
2020-2021B'TselemNIS 59,214
2020BimkomNIS 592,970
2019Ma’an Development Center€300,000
2016-2017WATC, CFTA, YMCA – East Jerusalem€586,626
2019-2020Breaking the SilenceNIS 135,808
2020B'TselemNIS 19,926
2019Yesh DinNIS 627,840
2019Kerem NavotNIS 30,861
2021Norwegian Refugee Council$609,756
2020$1,694,015
2019€500,000
2017Palestinian Center for Human Rights€250,000

Basque Autonomous Community

NGOs funded through the Basque Autonomous Community

Addameer

  • Addameer is a leader of campaigns in support of Palestinians prisoners convicted of security offenses, referring to them as “political prisoners” and altogether omitting the context of violence and terror.
  • Addameer is an “affiliate” of the  PFLP terror group. Several of Addameer’s current and former employees, as well as lawyers that work for Addameer, are linked to the terror group. For more information on Addameer’s PFLP ties, read NGO Monitor’s report “Addameer’s Ties to the PFLP Terrorist Group.”
  • On October 22, 2021, the Israeli Ministry of Defense declared Addameer a “terror organization” because it is part of “a network of organizations” that operates “on behalf of the ‘Popular Front’.”
  • In 2021-2023, the Municipality of San Sebastián is providing the Spanish NGO SODEPAZ and Addameer with €49,740 for a project, “Defense of the rights of Palestinian political prisoners with a global approach to human rights.” 
  • In 2021-2022, the Basque Agency for Development Cooperation (AVCD) provided Addameer with €150,000 for the “Defense of the rights of Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israeli prisons, with special attention to the situation caused by the covid-19 pandemic.” 
  • In 2021, AVCD provided the Spanish NGO Mundubat Foundation with €622,658 for “Reducing vulnerability and strengthening the resilience capacity of the Palestinian population of east Jerusalem.” Implementing partners include Addameer, Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees (UPWC), and DCI-P.
  • In 2020-2022, SODePAZ and Addameer are received €48,477 from the municipality of San Sebastián to “guarantee the defense of the human rights of Palestinian political prisoners and their families within a comprehensive protection approach.”
  • In 2019-2021, the Basque Agency for Development Cooperation (AVCD) is granting Mundubat €799,362 for “Comprehensive Protection of the Palestinian Population in East Jerusalem.” Implementing partners for the project include Addameer, Defense for Children International – Palestine (DCI-P), Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees (UPWC), and the Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center (JLAC).
  • In 2019-2021, SODePAZ and Addameer received €50,000 from the municipality of San Sebastián for the “Defense of the Rights of Palestinian Political Prisoners, Their Families and all People at Risk of Detention through Legal Aid, Training and Representation, with Special Attention to International Advocacy.”
  • In 2017-2019, AVCD provided Addameer with €180,000 for the “protection of the rights of Palestinian prisoners.”

Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees (UPWC) (See above)

Union of Health Work Committees (UHWC)

  • Since 2014, the Basque Autonomous Community provided at least €2 million for projects partnering with UHWC.
    • In 2019-2020, Provincial Council of Bizkaia provided €80,000 to UHWC and Paz con Dignidad for “Comprehensive Health Services for Women and Youth in Northern Gaza.”
    • In 2017-2018, AVCD provided €200,000 to UHWC and Paz con Dignidad to “improve the response capacity in emergency situations of the Al-Awda hospital in the northern area of ​​the Gaza strip.”
  • UHWC is identified by Fatah as a PFLP “affiliate” and by a USAID-engaged audit as “the PFLP’s health organization.” Numerous UHWC staff members, founders, board members, general assembly members, and senior staff members have ties to the PFLP terror group. For more information on UHWC’s PFLP ties, read NGO Monitor’s report “Union of Health Work Committees’ Ties to the PFLP Terror Group.”

Health Work Committees (HWC)

  • Since 2014, the Basque Autonomous Community provided at least €6 million for projects partnering with HWC.
  • In January 2020, HWC was designated by Israel as a terrorist organization,
  • On June 9, 2015, the Israel defense minister announced that the Jerusalem branch of the Health Work Committee is an unlawful association, designated as a terrorist organization by the Israel High Court of Justice (HCJ 3923/15; emphasis added).
  • Numerous HWC staff members, founders, board members, general assembly members, and senior staff members have ties to the PFLP terror group. For more information on HWC’s PFLP ties, read NGO Monitor’s report “Health Work Committees’ Ties to the PFLP Terror Group.”
  • Walid Hanatsheh (Abu Ras), HWC’s finance and administration manager, is on trial for allegedly being the leader of PFLP “military” operations and commanding the PFLP terror cell that carried out the August 2019 bombing attack (see UAWC above). According to the indictment against him, Hanatsheh bankrolled the bombing. Following his arrest, the PFLP labeled Hanatsheh a “leader in the Popular Front.”
  • Since 2014, the Basque Autonomous Community provided at least €6 million for projects partnering with HWC.
    • In 2019-2020, the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa provided HWC and SODePAZ €40,000 for “Health Care for Sick People in Emergency Departments.”
    • In 2016-2018, AVCD provided HWC and SODePAZ €200,000 for “Healthcare for chronically ill people in Ramallah, Hebron and Nablus.”

Defense for Children International – Palestine (DCI-P) (see above)

Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees

BADIL

Basque Autonomous Community Funding to Palestinian NGOs

Year(s)FunderAmountNGO(s)
2021-2023Municipality of San Sebastián€49,740SODePAZ; Addameer
2021-2022AVCD€150,000Addameer
2021-2022Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa€39,999Mundubat; UPWC
2021-2022AVCD€200,000Mundubat; UPWC
2021-2022AVCD€200,000DCI-P
2021AVCD€622,658Mundubat; Addameer;Union of Palestinian Women's Committees (UPWC), Defense for Children International-Palestine (DCI-P)
2020-2022Municipality of San Sebastián€98,479PARC
2020-2022Municipality of San Sebastián€48,477SODePAZ; Addameer
2020-2021AVCD€199,998Mundubat; UPWC
2020-2021AVCD€199,998DCI-P
2020-2021Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa€120,000BADIL
2019-2021Municipality of San Sebastián€45,499Mundubat; UPWC
2019-2021Municipality of San Sebastián€50,000SODePAZ; Addameer
2019-2020Municipality of San Sebastián€17,446Mundubat; UPWC
2019-2020Provincial council of Gipuzkoa€40,000SODePAZ; HWC
2019-2020Municipality of Vitoria-Gasteiz€67,682Mundubat; DCI-P
2019-2020Provincial Council of Bizkaia€80,000Paz con Dignidad; UHWC
2019-2020AVCD€199,946Mundubat; UPWC
2019-2021AVCD€799,362Mundubat; UPWC;DCI-P; Addameer; JLAC
2018-2019AVCD€184,252Mundubat; UPWC
2018-2019Municipality of Vitoria-Gasteiz€56,999Solidaridad Internacional; Addameer
2018-2020Municipality of San Sebastián€50,000SODePAZ; Addameer
2018-2020Municipality of San Sebastián€11,630SODePAZ; HWC
2018-2019Provincial council of Gipuzkoa€120,000Paz con Dignidad; BADIL
2017-2019AVCD€180,000Addameer
2017-2018AVCD€200,000Paz con Dignidad; UHWC
2017-2018Provincial Council of Bizkaia€80,000Paz con Dignidad; UHWC
2017-2019Municipality of San Sebastián€48,643SODePAZ; Addameer
2016-2018AVCD€200,000SODePAZ; HWC
2016-2018AVCD€200,000Paz con Dignidad; UHWC
2016-2017Municipality of Vitoria-Gasteiz€68,332Solidaridad Internacional; Addameer
2016-2018Provincial council of Gipuzkoa€81,248SODePAZ; Addameer
2016-2018Municipality of San Sebastián€66,489SODePAZ; Addameer
2016-2017Provincial Council of Bizkaia€80,000Paz con Dignidad; UHWC
2015-2016Provincial Council of Bizkaia€70,000Paz con Dignidad; UHWC
2015-2019AVCD€199,988Addameer
2015-2016AVCD€200,000Paz con Dignidad; UHWC
2015-2018AVCD€800,764Mundubat; UPWC; DCI-P; LRC; AIC, Bisan, HWC
2015-2016Provincial Council of Bizkaia€7,500Mundubat; HWC
2015Provincial Council of Bizkaia€69,450Mundubat; UAWC
2015-2017Municipality of San Sebastián€69,429SODePAZ; Addameer
2014-2015AVCD€199,246Paz con Dignidad; UHWC
2014-2016AVCD€514,837Paz con Dignidad; HWC
2014-2015Municipality of Vitoria-Gasteiz€97,947Solidaridad Internacional; Addameer
2014-2015Provincial council of Gipuzkoa€23,999Mikelazulo Kultur Elkartea; UAWC
2014Municipality of Bilbao€30,000Mundubat; UAWC
2014-2015Provincial Council of Bizkaia€70,000Paz con Dignidad; UHWC
2014-2016Municipality of San Sebastián€68,921SODePAZ; PCHR

Navarre Autonomous Community

  • Addameer
    • In 2020-2021, Navarre Autonomous Community provided SODePAZ and Addameer with €269,243 for a project titled “Protection of the rights of the Palestinian population detained in Israeli prisons.”
    • In 2016-2020, Navarre Autonomous Community provided SODePAZ with €670,203 for a project titled “Protection of the rights of the Palestinian population detained in Israeli prisons.” The PFLP “affiliate” Addameer is listed as the partner of the project.
  • Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees (PARC)
    • In 2019-2021, PARC received €490,000 for the “Promotion of the social and solidarity economy as a tool to overcome inequalities in Palestine.”

Andalucía Agency for International Development Cooperation (AACID)

NGOs funded through AACID and Andalusian Municipalities

In addition to AACID, Al Quds Association reports funding by local Andalusian governmental bodies to HWC, PCHR, and AIC. (See table below).

Year(s)FunderProjectAmountNGO(s)
2021Municipality of Málaga“Improved health and well-being of
the vulnerable Palestinian population
in the face of the COVID19 pandemic
in marginal areas of northern
West Bank: municipality of
Tubas and surroundings”
€10,474HWC
2021AACID“Promotion and protection of
women's rights in the Strip
from Gaza”
€109,825PCHR
2020Municipality of Málaga“Improved access to primary health care and wellness of vulnerable people in the West Bank”€14,933HWC
2019Municipality of Málaga“Right of access to medical care for the most vulnerable Palestinian population in isolated areas of Area C. West Bank (Palestine)”€14,595HWC
Provincial Council of Málaga€35,599
2019Municipality of Casares“Protecting the right of access to healthcare in the Gaza Strip (Palestine)”€15,000PCHR
2018Municipality of Málaga“Strengthening capacities for comprehensive health care and reproductive and sexual health of women in rural areas of Bethlehem, West Bank”€12,297HWC
Provincial Council of Málaga€30,000
2018Provincial Council of Málaga“Protection and promotion of women's rights in the Gaza Strip through access to justice, empowerment and legal defense”€20,000PCHR
2017Municipality of Málaga“Protection of women's social and reproductive rights through health care and empowerment against gender-based violence”€7,750HWC
2017Provincial Council of Málaga“Making visible the construction of bridges of dialogue between Palestinian and Israeli Human Rights defenders”€25,000AIC
2016Municipality of Málaga“Protecting the health of Palestinian women through€13,420HWC
Cancer diagnosis, prevention and treatment in the West Bank.”
2016Provincial Council of Málaga“Making visible the construction of bridges of dialogue between Palestinian and Israeli Human Rights defenders”€25,000AIC

Madrid Autonomous Community

In 2019, Madrid Autonomous Community provided Alianza por la solidaridad and UHWC with €79,450 for “Strengthening of humanitarian protection mechanisms for survivors of gender-based violence in Gaza.”

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