NGO Monitor has released its report examining European Union (EU) funding of political NGOs in the Arab-Israeli conflict. The fifty page report, “Europe’s Hidden Hand,” reveals for the first time that between 2005 and 2007, the EU provided tens of millions of Euros from public money to NGOs whose activities directly contradict EU policy. The report also details the lack of transparency and accountability in EU funding of NGOs. The analysis has already begun to have an impact, as a Member of the European Parliament has utilized the report to press the European Commission to explain the inconsistencies in their
Read More +When it comes to promoting accountability in the Arab-Israeli conflict, Human Rights Watch once again fails becuase of its bias against Israel. “The point is not to equate, excuse or balance abuses but to demonstrate that reporting is based on human rights principles rather than partisan considerations.” HRW’s Position Paper on the Durban Preparatory Committee (April 21, 2008): The following analysis [by NGO Monitor] demonstrates that HRW’s own activities related to Israel continue to fall short of this basic standard of universality Summary: Analysis of Human Rights Watch‘s use of the rhetoric of international law and other terminology shows continued
Read More +Promoting accountability in the Arab-Israel Conflict, with thanks to NGO Monitor: NGO Monitor has contacted the embassies of EU member states, as well as Switzerland and Norway, requesting information on their policy towards the UN Durban Review Conference scheduled for 2009. Specifically, NGO Monitor asked whether these governments had defined principles required of NGO grant-recipients regarding participation in the Durban Review Conference, and what lessons were learned from 2001. Various governments have already made public statements expressing their concern over the Review Conference. On January 23, 2008, the Canadian government announced that it would pull out of the conference and
Read More +NGO Monitor seeks to foster a comprehensive and intellectually honest debate on the critical issues surrounding the Arab-Israeli conflict. The aim of NGO Monitor is to challenge distortions and inflammatory rhetoric by providing information and analysis. The fundamental question we should all seek to answer is whether NGOs are positively contributing to the protection of human rights of Israelis. DFID is the Department for International Development in the UK. From NGO Monitor: As a follow up to its submission dated October 12, 2006, NGO Monitor presented this updated report to the International Development Committee Inquiry on the Humanitarian and Development
Read More +Islam-loving NGOs promote “Israeli Apartheid Week”, where lies, fabrications, and false accusations are the order of the day. Via NGO Monitor: War on Want, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, Keshev, I’lam and ICAHD, (whose funders include the EU, Finnish and British governments, and NIF), are joining a number of extremist NGOs to promote “Israeli Apartheid week.” Israeli Apartheid week (IAW) was first held in Canada in 2004. In 2008 it encompasses events in Canada, Mexico, South Africa, the UK, the USA and the Palestinian Territories. Its stated aim, in line with the NGO declaration from the 2001 UN World Conference against
Read More +Promoting critical debate and accountability of Human Rights NGOs in the Arab Israeli conflict. From NGO-Monitor: Summary: Ford-funded NGOs led the campaign against Israel at the UN World Conference Against Racism, at Durban in 2001. The Ford Foundation’s 2007 database of direct grants does not include NGOs which exploit human rights rhetoric as part of the Durban strategy of demonizing Israel. However, Ford does not include information on indirect and continuing funding. NGO Monitor’s research shows that PCHR, Miftah and PHRO continued to receive Ford Foundation support in 2007. NGO Monitor sent numerous requests for clarification to Ford which were
Read More +Promoting Accountability in the Arab-Israeli Conflict. From NGO Monitor: The statement written by Joe Stork of Human Rights Watch (HRW) condemning Israel’s response to rocket bombardment from Gaza exploits and distorts international law. Of the 34 paragraphs, Stork only mentions the hundreds of rocket attacks against Israel in two sentences, demonstrating the double standards in this invective. HRW’s claim that Gaza remains “occupied” is a politically based fiction designed to negate Israel’s legal and moral right to self-defense. There is no legal or moral precedent for a country to be forced to provide a hostile neighbor with the means to
Read More +I’ve added two important links to NGO-Monitor and to NGO-Monitor Blog; both are critical resources which promote accountability in the Arab-Israeli Conflict. Please add these links to your own list of resources and research tools. http://www.ngo-monitor.org and http://blog.ngo-monitor.org.
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