Israeli diplomats are preparing to raise with the Irish government a report claiming that it is funding, to the tune of around £600,000, the activities of British and Palestinian non-governmental organisations — some of which are running campaigns aimed at “demonising” Israel and supporting boycott moves .

The report, issued this week by the Jerusalem-based NGO Monitor, says the money is channelled through the Irish Foreign Ministry’s Irish Aid department and is going to a range of organisations active in the Palestinian territories.

They include Christian Aid, War on Want, the Palestinian human rights group Al-Haq, the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions and the Ramallah-based Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs, all of which are critical of Israeli policies.

“While [the Irish Foreign Ministry’s] declared objectives are to promote peace and justice through a commitment to human rights and fairness in international relations, Irish Aid funds highly biased and conflict-fuelling NGOs,” says the report.

Some of the NGOs receiving funds “are engaged in intense political advocacy campaigns directed against Israel, including promotion of boycotts and the rhetoric of demonisation”.

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