|
Trending Topics
|
Swiss Parliament Votes to End Funding of Anti-Semitic NGOs
(NGO Monitor) The Swiss Council of States, the upper house of Parliament, on Tuesday approved legislation passed by the lower house in March that directs the government to "amend the laws, ordinances and regulations" to prevent funding to NGOs "involved in racist, anti-Semitic or hate incitement actions." A primary channel for Swiss funding to NGOs is the Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Secretariat, a joint funding mechanism of Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands. The Secretariat has funded Israeli and Palestinian NGOs that engage in "lawfare" against Israeli officials and companies that do business with Israel, promote BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanctions) campaigns, exploit the false "apartheid" analogy to demonize Israel, and/or promote anti-Semitic propaganda. The Secretariat disbursed $14 million to NGOs in 2014-16: 65% of Secretariat funding is provided to NGOs that are BDS leaders. "We are seeing a dramatic and broad change in a number of European countries, with the Swiss vote following on the heels of Denmark's decision to freeze funding to Palestinian NGOs, pending an investigation," said Prof. Gerald Steinberg, president at NGO Monitor.