Click here to read the original article

[Translation by NGO Monitor]

The EU court rejected NGO Monitor’s petition to reveal documents concerning the EU’s transfer of funds to leftist organizations in Israel. Leftist organizations are celebrating. Not sure why. If European law does not allow revealing certain documents, Israeli legislation might force those organizations to reveal something that is hidden. And then, they will surely scream “Gevalt!” and claim that it is dangerous to democracy.

The surprising ruling brings us back to the anomaly of Israel-EU relations. The EU supports projects which pretend to deal with human rights. Sounds nice, but it’s not the whole story. Some of these organizations and/or their activists and leaders, are flagrantly involved in the demonization campaign against Israel, sometimes even openly. And indeed, they see every instance of demonization as “criticism on Israel’s policy.” But this is a false display. Because some of the people involved are driven by a clear political agenda, which includes the dismissal of Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish and democratic state and/or the support of the Palestinian right to return.

Channeling money from the EU to political organizations in Israel is a matter for protest and diplomatic action. Israel must make it clear that just like the EU does not fund anti-governmental groups in the UK or separatist groups in Catalonia, it cannot fund these kind of groups in Israel, even if the funding is for a specific project dealing with human rights. It is a double standard, which obligates the EU to execute self examination. This kind of political involvement has no place in state relations. Additionally, the comparison to human rights groups in Egypt, which received US government support, is not appropriate. In Egypt, the groups actually deal with human rights. They’re not acting to undermine Egypt’s right to self-determination. They’re not involved in any state-conflict between Egypt and one of its neighbors. The EU is not Israel’s enemy, even if its policy is critical of Israel. But it seems that when it comes to funding hostile groups, the EU acts contrary to the policy agenda of the EU itself – two states for two nations, without Jewish return to Judea and Samaria, and without Palestinian right of return inside of  Israel.

So the legal “victory” is not relevant. The issue was and still is political. The critical policy of the EU against Israel is understandable. It’s a little bit hard to understand the EU’s support to groups who oppose its own stance.