Profile
| Country/Territory | Italy |
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| Website | http://www.ventoditerra.org |
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| Founded | 2003 |
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| In their own words | “We work in border territories and we consider development cooperation as a complex relationship among equals. We suggest an idea of community development related to the concept of social, economic and cultural growth.” |
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Funding
- Vento di Terra (VdT) does not release financial information, reflecting a lack of transparency and accountability.
- In 2021-2022, Italy granted $17,000 to Vento di Terra, in partnership with Islamic Relief Palestine (IRPAL) and Save the Children.
- On June 19, 2014, Israel’s Defense Minister declared Islamic Relief Worldwide to be illegal, based on its alleged role in funneling money to Hamas, and banned it from operating in Israel and the West Bank. (Hamas is a designated terror organization by Israel, the U.S., EU, and Canada.) According to news reports, the decision was made after “the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), the coordinator for government activities in the territories, and legal authorities provided incriminating information against IRW.”
- In 2021, the Italian government granted $60,000 to Vento di Terra, in partnership with Save the Children and the Norwegian Refugee Council.
- In 2014-2017, VdT was an implementing partner on a € 2.2 million grant from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation for “Strengthening and networking of educational and psychosocial support services for minors and women in marginal areas of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem.” Other implementing partners include the Bisan Center for Research and Development and the Remedial Education Center. (See more about the Bisan Center below.)
Activities
- Despite claiming to “invest in social and educational services to support a peace culture in the heart of the conflict,” VdT pushes the Palestinian political narrative and blames Israel exclusively for the situation. VdT repeatedly argues that the sole impediment to Palestinian development is Israeli policy.
- In August 2022, VdT was a signatory on a letter to President Biden condemning the decision by the Israeli Ministry to designate six Palestinian NGOs as terrorist organizations. According to the letter, “The targeted organizations form part of the bedrock of Palestinian civil society that has been protecting and advancing Palestinian human rights for decades across the full spectrum of issues of global concern.” The letter also called to “Suspend U.S. military funding to the Israeli government and cease any diplomatic efforts that enable systemic impunity for Israel’s gross violations of internationally-recognized human rights.”
- In August 2018, representatives from VdT attended an event that included a virulently antisemitic artwork display in the Palestinian encampment of Khan al-Ahmar. The event was hosted by the Palestinian Authority’s “Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission.”
- In May 2018, VdT signed an “Urgent appeal” to Prime Minister Gentiloni and Foreign Minister Alfano calling to “Stop the deliberate killing of civilians in Gaza.” The appeal accused Israel of “ferocious military campaigns” and “collective punishment,” while turning Gaza into an “open-air prison.” The appeal ignored the violent nature of the protests, which included Molotov cocktails, arson, and attempts to breach the border fence with Israel.
- In October and November 2017, VdT held a series of conferences on the “resistance of the Bedouin communities for the right to education in Palestine.” The conferences featured Rabbi Jeremy Milgrom, a leader at the time of the Israeli NGO Rabbis for Human Rights.
- In July 2017, VdT was a signatory on a statement titled “Jerusalem: international law must be respected” calling for the Italian government to “suspend all agreements for economic and military cooperation with Israel until the restoration of international law.”
- In July 2017, VdT joined the campaign “#we4gaza” that aimed to “bring international attention to this slow genocide.”
- In February 2017, VdT participated in a museum exhibit on the children of Gaza at the Diocesan Museum of Milan illustrating the “traumas suffered” in Gaza. The museum also held a conference featuring VdT on the “situation of minors in Gaza.”
- In 2010, VdT constructed the Khan al Ahmar Rubber Tire School with contributions from Rabbis for Human Rights, Pax Christi, and ICHAD.
- In 2010, VdT activist Annalisa Portioli represented VdT as an applicant for participation in the national coordination committee for the Gaza Freedom Flotilla 2.
All Articles about Vento di Terra
