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[Excerpts:]

“A fight over external funding between the PAGO (Palestinian Authority governmental organization) and other Palestinian NGOs is taking place at the moment. This crisis was in fact created by the foreign donors who ceased checking whether the NGOs were independent or not. Today independent NGOs are considered "useless" and rather ineffective. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas created in his office a so-called Jerusalem Unit, which is aimed at attracting foreign aid and funds which previously would have gone directly to local, independent NGOs.”

“HOW CAN NGOs stay independent and politically neutral if they have to apply for funds through the President’s Office? How can they be effective when made so dependent? How can ordinary people trust them after they have become de facto employees of the president?”