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The Israeli Government's Designation of Six Palestinian NGOs: A Reply to Critics
(Fathom-BICOM-UK) Gerald M. Steinberg - Attempts to dismiss the evidence systematically linking the PFLP to a network of NGOs as the actions of a few individuals is deceitful. Open-source evidence published by NGO Monitor shows direct links between more than 70 PFLP officials and many of the NGOs. The NGOs and their close allies receive most of their funding - amounting to millions of Euros annually - from European governments. Officials with long records of cooperation with the heads of these Palestinian NGOs have been understandably reluctant to acknowledge major errors in judgement. The Israeli government is urging the European funders to consider the evidence and reconsider these policies. The claim that the organizations involved are "pillars of Palestinian civil society" devoted to human rights should be taken with a large grain of salt. In addition to the terror links, the six NGOs promote demonization of Israel, including campaigns that cross the line into anti-Semitism. The writer, professor emeritus of political studies at Bar-Ilan University, heads the Institute for NGO Research in Jerusalem.