[Opinion] The tourist Trojan horse
Itai Reuveni describes the many anti-Israel "tourism" programs that bring individuals to Israel to promote BDS campaigns, as well as other forms of delegitimization.
Publications: | Reports, Books, Academic Publications, Submissions, Resource Pages |
---|---|
Other Content Types: | Press Releases, In The Media, Presentations, Posts, , Key Issues |
NGOs: | Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel (EAPPI) |
Start date: | 1 Jan 1988 |
End date: | Oct 2023 |
Itai Reuveni describes the many anti-Israel "tourism" programs that bring individuals to Israel to promote BDS campaigns, as well as other forms of delegitimization.
EAPPI, founded in 2002 by the World Council of Churches, brings internationals to the West Bank to "experience the occupation." After the activists return to their home countries they often promote anti-Israel campaigns, including BDS.
While there are widely divergent narratives regarding the village and history of Susiya, many EU-funded NGOs have been active lobbying the Israeli government to prevent the demolition, promoting the Palestinian narrative of victimization.
The World Week for Peace in Palestine Israel program, organized by the World Council of Churches, promotes a highly one-sided narrative, erasing the severity of crimes committed by Palestinian "political prisoners," including premeditated murders of Israeli civilians.
As in previous rounds of the Arab-Israeli conflict, political NGOs have issued numerous unfound statements condemning Israel.
German funding to political NGOs active in the Arab-Israeli conflict often supports radical organizations that oppose peace, promote demonization, political warfare, and in some cases, blatant antisemitism.