In the Media: Germany

Below is a compilation of articles highlighting NGO Monitor’s contributions to the broader conversation about NGOs, funding, and accountability in Germany.  These include blogs and op-eds written by NGO Monitor and staff, as well as articles citing NGO Monitor, or otherwise relevant to our mission.

Germany and Israel: A missed opportunity

Olga Deutsch, The Times of Israel, May 17, 2017

Olga Deutsch argues that Germany must address its funding of highly politicized NGOs that manipulate human rights rhetoric and whitewash violence.

B’Tselem and Breaking the Silence – not the real danger

Olga Deutsch, NRG, May 10, 2017

NGO Monitor informed the German government, and although there was no government response, the PSCC was no longer included as a partner.

German Attacks on Israel

Hal G.P. Colebatch, The Spectator, May 6, 2017

Professor Gerald Steinberg, President of NGO Monitor, has said: ‘German funding to organisations like B’Tselem and Breaking the Silence is a small part of the problem; the government also provides money to radical organisations that delegitimise the right of the Jewish people to sovereign equality… Since the late 1990s influential human rights NGOs such as Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International have been at the forefront of attempts to delegitimise Israel. These international NGOs often work in concert with the Arab League and the Islamic bloc in UN frameworks, as well as with Israeli and Palestinian NGOs, promoting false allegations of ‘war crimes’, ‘massacres’ and other violations of human rights… These NGO condemnations fuel BDS campaigns, as well as lawfare campaigns in the International Criminal Court and other venues.’

Taking Back our Sovereignty

Gerald M. Steinberg, Times of Israel, May 1, 2017

“The latest clash with German Foreign Minister Gabriel also involves sovereignty, and the right of the Jewish people to guide our own destiny, after 2000 years in which this was denied to us. If any country should be sensitive to this issue, it should be Germany, but like other Europeans, that sensitivity is absent. Gabriel, whose government is among the top funders and enablers of the Breaking the Silence activists (NIS 5.5 million in four years), as well as the New York Times editorial board, which attacked Netanyahu on this issue, were entirely tone deaf.”

Have you met with Chelsea Manning, Herrr Minister?

Ben-Dror Yemini, Ynet, April 30, 2017

“According to NGO Monitor’s listings, more than NIS 3.5 million were transferred to that same NGO from 2012 to 2014 by “foreign entities—in other words, by foreign countries or foundations supported by foreign countries, practically all European. Germany is in the picture too. This is not the way to advance peace. This is the way to perpetuate the conflict, as well as to support the Palestinian illusion of destroying Israel through a “right of return.””

German hypocrisy in Israel (German)

Ben-Dror Yemini, Cicero, April 28, 2017

It is permissible and necessary to criticize the policies of the Israeli government. But Germany and Foreign Minister Gabriel support organizations whose main concerns are the demonization of Israel. A guest contribution by the Israeli journalist Ben-Dror Yemini

Analysis: Germany’s Social Democrats Pivot toward PLO and Iran

Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post, April 27, 2017

“Prof. Gerald Steinberg, president of NGO Monitor, said “German funding to organizations like B’Tselem and Breaking the Silence is a small part of the problem; the government also provides money to radical organizations that delegitimize the right of the Jewish people to sovereign equality. This controversy [over Gabriel’s visit] is an opportunity to hold a serious dialogue between elected officials to solve the problems arising from the paralleled European links with Israeli political groups and NGOs.””

Israeli Leader Cancels Meeting After German Official Visits Protest Group

Ian Fisher, The New York Times, April 25, 2017

“NGO Monitor, a group critical of what it sees as bias against Israel among nongovernmental and rights groups, said the German government had given roughly $1.5 million to Breaking the Silence through various donors over the last four year.”

Anger Around Gabriel’s Visit to Israel (German)

De Bild, April 25, 2017

“These NGOs would not turn to Israeli society, but almost exclusively to foreign countries, explains Gerald Steinberg of the organization NGO Monitor, which monitors the work of these non-governmental organizations. “They are appealing to the international community to take action against Israel,” he says – and would be financed from abroad as well.”

Israeli political scientist talks about interference (German)

Europe Online Magazine, April 25, 2017

“The use of Israeli non-governmental organizations to move European ideologies and interests in Israel is seen as political manipulation in Israel,” said Gerald Steinberg of the German Press Agency on Tuesday. “This is unacceptable to Israel, who is always concerned about national independence and self-determination.”

German Govt Funds Radical NGOs That Incite Violence, Praise Terrorism

Hana Levi Julian, Jewish Press, April 25, 2017

“Research by the NGO Monitor has revealed the German government provides millions of euros to political advocacy NGOs in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza.”

Germany funds Palestinian organizations supporting terrorism and violence (Hebrew)

Adi Daniel, Channel 20, April 25, 2017

“Against the background of the diplomatic crisis with Germany, NGO Monitor publishes data according to which the German government funds a large number of Palestinian organizations, some of them supporters of terrorism with antisemitic rhetoric.”

“We asked to speak with the German FM, but did not receive a response” (Hebrew)

Yair Altman, Yisrael HaYom, April 25, 2017

“A report by the NGO Monitor research institute, distributed among 3,000 European parliamentarians, documents a disturbing pattern of action that shows that some European governments fund NGOs that incite and legitimize violence against civilians, some of which have ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, A terrorist organization recognized by the European Union, the United States, Canada and Israel.”

The quality of mercy

The Jerusalem Post, January 18, 2017

“Merkel has the right moral positions, but her government’s policies are often out of sync,” Bar-Ilan University political studies professor Gerald Steinberg told The Jerusalem Post. “The chancellor has been outspoken in condemning Iran’s antisemitism and genocidal threats,” Steinberg noted, but added that “Germany is leading the charge to do business with Tehran. And while Merkel calls BDS [Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions] unacceptable, German political foundations and church aid NGOs are active in promoting this form of warfare against Israel.”

In strong attack on Israel, German foreign minister says settlements jeopardize peace

Benjamin Weinthal, The Jerusalem Post, December 30, 2016

Bundesdeutsche Organisationen mit Einfluss auf die Zivilgesellschaft im arabisch-israelischen Konflikt

NGO Monitor, December 11, 2016

Der folgende Bericht untersucht die Finanzierung von Organisationen, die im arabisch-israelischen Konflikt aktiv sind, und die von den folgenden bundesdeutschen Einrichtungen unterstützt werden: der Zivile Friedensdienst (ZFD), die Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), die staatlich finanzierte Kirchenhilfe und das Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (IFA).

European Funded NGOs linked to PFLP Terror Network, IBA News (Hebrew)

NGO Monitor, November 22, 2016

Report from IBA News based on NGO Monitor research, European Funded NGOs linked to PFLP Terror Network

EU, terror and the transparency bill

Ron Jontof-Hutter, Israel Hayom, September 14, 2016

The EU, Terror-Funding and Israel’s Transparency Bill

Ron Jontof-Hutter, Algemeiner, August 17, 2016

German Federally Funded Church Organizations’ Support for NGOs Active in the Arab-Israeli Conflict

NGO Monitor, August 01, 2016

Church aid organizations in Germany, which receive most of their budgets from the government, are major funders of politicized NGOs in Israel and the PA.

[Opinion] New Report Examines German Federal Funding to Civil Society in Arab-Israeli Conflict

Olga Deutsch, Judische Allgemeine, July 28, 2016

Transparenz und Nahostpolitik

German Federal Frameworks Involving Civil Society in the Arab-Israeli Conflict

NGO Monitor, July 10, 2016

German federal funding is allocated to, amongst others, political advocacy NGOs that promote BDS and lawfare campaigns, through direct and indirect funding mechanisms.

Research Note: German Government Program for “Strengthening Nonviolent Initiatives” Funds Organizations Promoting Violence

NGO Monitor, April 12, 2016

German-Funded Goethe Institut to Host Event featuring Breaking the Silence

NGO Monitor, March 09, 2016

The Goethe Institut, which receives institutional funding from the German government, will host a panel featuring Yuli Novack, executive director of Breaking the Silence, enabling the organization to further its false narrative of victimization and censure.