Swiss Parliament Launches Inquiry into Anti-Israel NGOs

(Jerusalem Post) Benjamin Weinthal - According to a front-page story in Switzerland's Basler Zeitung on Monday, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) has allocated funds in the millions to anti-Israel NGOs linked to terrorism and working in support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel. The story, headlined "Resistance in Parliament Against Money for Israel-Critical Campaigns," reported that MP Christian Imark had introduced a motion supported by 41 lawmakers from across the political spectrum calling on the FDFA to stop all direct or indirect funding to organizations that sponsor "racist and anti-Semitic actions" or are involved in BDS campaigns. Prof. Gerald Steinberg, president of Jerusalem-based NGO Monitor, said the article "reflects the concerns of many MPs in Switzerland, who were surprised to learn of the very negative and counterproductive impact of their government's funding for radical anti-peace NGOs." Steinberg added that similar public debates on the funding of radical NGOs are now taking place in Holland, Denmark and other countries.


2016-05-25 00:00:00

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