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G Steinberg in Brussels: Anti-Israel NGOs spark call for reform from

Saturday, February 22, 2014 15:31
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Anti-Israel NGOs spark call for reform from MEPs
NGO Monitor presents Middle East funding bias to EU parliament.
By: Benjamin Weinthal The Jerusalem Post
http://www.jpost.com/International/Anti-Israel-NGOs-spark-call-for-reform-f=
rom-MEPs-341981

The Jerusalem-based organization NGO Monitor delivered a presentation on =

Tuesday to members of the European Parliament, which outlined irregular =

funding practices for EU funded NGOs in the Middle East, including =

organizations that seek to delegitimize Israel.

Speaking from Brussels, Prof. Gerald Steinberg, president of NGO monitor, =

told The Jerusalem Post that a =93highly disproportionate number of NGOs ar=
e =

focused on the Israel-Palestinian conflict… more so than any other part o=
f =

the world.=94

He added =93some [EU] money goes to BDS [Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions] =

and other ways to sabotage Israel=92s judicial system.=94

NGO Monitor issued the analysis of EU funding on Tuesday.

The report is titled =93Evaluating Funding for Political Advocacy NGOs in t=
he =

Arab-Israeli conflict.=94

The report only covers EU funded NGOs from the period of 2007-10, because =

the EU has declined to provide comprehensive data for subsequent years.

It asserts there is a disparity in European Instrument for Democracy and =

Human Rights (EIDHR) funds. Israel and the =93Occupied Palestinian =

Territories=94 received over EUR11 million, more than any other country.

Non-democracies like Syria, Iran, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab =

Emirates received no human-rights funds from EIDHR during the examined =

period.

The EIDHR has an annual budget of EUR160m. and its aim is to promote =

=93democracy and human rights in non-EU countries.=94

Bastiaan Belder, a Dutch MEP (member of European Parliament) and chair of =

the Parliamentary Delegation for relations with Israel, told the Post, that =

he regrets =93to see that 57 percent of EIDHR funding is given to Israel an=
d =

the Palestinian =91Occupied=92 Territories, while Israel is regarded by Fre=
edom =

House as the only =91free=92 country in the Middle East.

While other countries, scoring much lower and classified as =91unfree=92 [s=
uch =

as the PA administered territories, Saudi Arabia and Iran] receive much les=
s =

or even no funding under EIDHR.

This is illogical and funding allocations to Human Rights priorities in the =

region should be reconsidered.=94

He added, =93I am deeply concerned about the findings of the report and I c=
all =

upon the European Commission and the EU Delegation in Israel to stop the =

funding to NGOs that undermine Israel=92s legitimacy and the Middle East pe=
ace =

process.=94

Sarah Ludford, a British MEP, told the Post that the NGO Monitor report =

=93raises serious concerns which the European Commission needs to answer in=
a =

very detailed, open and forensic manner, which it has not so far done in =

answering MEPs in the last few years.

Grants to NGOs working in the context of the Israel-Palestinian conflict ar=
e =

bound to be somewhat controversial, but it is not acceptable for European =

taxpayers=92 money to fund political activities which are in basic =

contradiction to EU goals.=94

She continued, =93These include not only democracy, non-violence and the ru=
le =

of law, but also trade and economic partnership with Israel based on the =

association agreement, so to have EU money supporting the BDS agenda is =

shooting ourselves in the foot.=94

There are EU sponsored NGOS that engage in politically biased attacks =

without a commitment to neutrality, according to the report. For example, E=
U =

provided EUR169,661 to the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions.

The ICAHD has accused Israel of =93ethnic cleansing,=94 =93genocide,=94 =93=
collective =

punishment=94 and =93apartheid.=94

The Holy Land Trust was a recipient of EIDHR funds. NGO Monitor said the =

trust advocates BDS and supports the Kairos Palestine Document, which calls =

for BDS against Israel and rejects the =93Jewish historical connection to =

Israel in theological terms.=94

Hannu Takkula, a Finnish MEP, told the Post, =93It is unfortunate that ther=
e =

are indisputable concerns about distribution of the EU=92s financial suppor=
t =

for various parties and NGOs. It seems to me that the High Representative =

Baroness [Catherine] Ashton is not to be blamed as the cause of the apparen=
t =

imbalance in the EU policies and in the way they are implemented. Instead, =

the whole EU needs to be more careful and thorough in investigating the =

various projects and NGOs that receive financial support from the EU.=94

He continued, =93It is a worrying trend that within the EU there is an =

increasing number of groups which have more clearly taken sides in =

conflicting issues. Meanwhile the EU=92s overall aim to pave the way for pe=
ace =

has not been kept in full focus. I believe that the EU would more =

effectively fulfill its values and goals if it attempts to be as neutral as =

possible and strives for balanced policies.=94

Ashton=92s spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic did not immediately reply to a Post =

query.

Asked about the NGO Monitor report, Alexandra Thein, a German MEP, told the =

Post: =93We discussed this issue in this Monday=92s meeting of the European =

Parliament=92s delegation for the relations to Israel of which I=92m a memb=
er. =

Fact is that the European Union is actually not financing NGOs but programs=
. =

To fulfill these programs, contracts are finalized with various NGOs and th=
e =

European Commission is evaluating the progress. If NGOs do not adhere to th=
e =

modalities of these contracts their terminations are likely.

The Commission has its own guidelines and modalities of how it supervises =

the funds paid to NGOs.=94

She added, =93Our main target with regard to the work of all these differen=
t =

NGOs in Israel, is that freedom of expression and plurality of opinion is =

safe guarded in the democracy of Israel.=94

Thein raised eyebrows in 2010 in Germany. She was slated to speak at =

pro-Palestinian conference featuring a Hamas politician. Thein=92s party th=
e =

Free Democrat=92s pulled the plug on her speaking engagement at the event. =
On =

her own website, she has a section called =93Focus Palestine,=94 where she =
posts =

notices about Israeli acts of =93land discrimination.=94

Takkula proposed some guiding principles.

=93There must be a more careful analysis of the overall situation before an=
y =

money is allocated or released for any NGOs or projects in the region; ther=
e =

must be enough accurate information/ details as a basis for decisions about =

financial support; thorough monitoring of the NGOs and their activities and =

projects is needed; there must be more openness about the use of EU funds; =

all decisions about funding must be made on the basis of the EU fundamental =

values,=94 he said.

He said, =93This means that the NGOs and projects must enhance democracy, =

human rights, fundamental human freedoms and the rule of law.=94

Steinberg told the Post that the US Congress conducts an annual review of =

NGOs and their funding streams. The US congress has changed the terms of =

agreements because the NGOs lack of sound practices.

In sharp contrast, said Steinberg, =93The EU Parliament has never exercised =

oversight power.=94

Belder said =93I believe that more transparency, accountability and =

professional and independent evaluation of the financial allocations to =

EIDHR projects in Israel are needed.

=93I would like to receive an honest, detailed and comprehensive answer of =
the =

Commission and the EU Delegation in Israel to the findings presented in the =

report by NGO Monitor,=94 he added. =

________________________________________
IMRA – Independent Media Review and Analysis

Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on A=
rab-Israeli relations

Website: www.imra.org.il

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Source: http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=63267

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