In response to the announcement of a planned parliamentary inquiry into foreign funding for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and their campaigns against the IDF, NGO Monitor released the following statement
The Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Secretariat (Secretariat) – a joint funding mechanism of the governments of Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands – is suspending funding to the Women’s Affairs Technical Committee (WATC), after WATC participated in inaugurating a women’s center in the West Bank named after Dalal Mughrabi, a terrorist who murdered 38 Israeli civilians.
In December 2016, the EU announced grants under the EU Peacebuilding Initiative (European Neighbourhood Policy) with a total budget of €4.9 million. Among the recipients and projects, a number (receiving one-third of the total budget) demonstrate records of activities that are entirely inconsistent with the stated goals of promoting peace in the region.
NGO Monitor estimates that European governments – directly through governmental mechanisms, and indirectly via church and other humanitarian groups – and UN agencies contribute over €100 million to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) active in the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Gerald Steinberg calls for increased dialogue between Israeli and European leaders and members of parliaments to solve the issue of foreign governmental funding of Israeli NGOs.
Olga Deutsch argues that the way to resolve the issue of government-funded NGOs is to engage in constructive, civil dialogue that strengthen the shared values between Israel and Europe.
NGO Monitor has prepared a position paper, which places the study by a committee in the European Parliament in the context of a growing debate on funding to NGOs, highlighting the need for greater oversight and proposing recommendations for future EU conduct.
Despite its stated opposition to BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanctions) campaigns against Israel, the European Union (EU) is a major financial backer of organizations that advocate for the country’s economic isolation.
Since 2000, the EU has refused to release protocols established regarding funding of NGOs in the Middle East.
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