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