[Opinion] Germany and Israel: A missed opportunity
Olga Deutsch argues that Germany must address its funding of highly politicized NGOs that manipulate human rights rhetoric and whitewash violence.
Publications: | Reports, Books, Academic Publications, Submissions, Resource Pages |
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Other Content Types: | Press Releases, In The Media, Presentations, Posts, , Key Issues |
NGOs: | Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs (PASSIA) |
Start date: | 1 Jan 1988 |
End date: | 21 Oct 2017 |
Olga Deutsch argues that Germany must address its funding of highly politicized NGOs that manipulate human rights rhetoric and whitewash violence.
The German government directly and indirectly provides millions of euros to Israeli, Palestinian, and European non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are politically active in the Arab-Israeli conflict. This includes groups that glorify terrorism, promote BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanctions) campaigns against Israel, and some with alleged ties to the PFLP terrorist organization.
A number of government-funded Palestinian and European NGOs repeatedly manipulate human rights through the use of “resistance” rhetoric, blurring the lines between violence and nonviolence, denigrating security concerns, and legitimizing attacks against civilians. Some of these groups also have ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) – a designated terrorist organization by the EU, U.S., Canada, and Israel.
Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Finland contribute millions of dollars annually to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that include some of the most radical groups operating in Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The scope of funding from these countries is extensive compared to NGO support from other European governments. NGO Monitors research details the levels of Scandinavian funding received by specific NGOs, as well as the anti-Israel advocacy and demonization campaigns in which these NGOs engage often in direct contradiction to the humanitarian, peace, and human-rights agendas they claim to espouse.