|
Trending Topics
|
Source: https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/17913/palestinian-authority-ngos
The Palestinian Authority Campaign Against Palestinian NGOs
(Gatestone Institute) Khaled Abu Toameh - The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the U.S. and the EU, is one of 11 groups that form the PLO, headed by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Each group receives monthly allocations of up to $70,000 from the Palestinian National Fund (PNF), which is responsible for managing financial aid coming from Arab states, wealthy Palestinians, and Palestinians working in Arab countries. While Israel has come under attack for its move against six NGOs associated with the PFLP, there is almost no mention that the PA has been targeting hundreds of Palestinian NGOs for quite some time, as part of an effort to control them and take their funds. The PA is not targeting the NGOs because of their affiliation with terrorism. Many of the NGOs have been critical of the PA leadership, which is why Abbas wants to silence them. Earlier this year, Abbas issued a "presidential decree" that imposes severe restrictions on the activity and finances of Palestinian civil society organizations, authorizing Palestinian officials to transfer NGO funds to the PA treasury.