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Palestinian Aid Groups Perpetuate the Conflict

(Israel Hayom) Odelia Azoulay - The number of non-governmental organizations with a vested interested in perpetuating the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has multiplied ever since the Palestinian Authority was formed after the 1993 Oslo Accords. Throughout modern history, it was civil society groups that laid the foundations for the creation of state institutions and paved the way for governance. In Palestinian society, however, the opposite is true. With the PA's founding, more aid organizations were established at the expense of effective and official government institutions. According to a 2016 report by the Palestinian NGO Network, civil organizations are responsible for the supply of 60% of medical services and health insurance in the Palestinian territories. In other words, they are significantly delaying the development of the PA's own institutions. Furthermore, instead of promoting a resolution of the conflict, these organizations consistently act to exacerbate it. A code of conduct signed by over 200 Palestinian organizations obligates its members to "align themselves with the national agenda that prohibits normalization" with Israel. A World Bank report in 2018 found that aid funds do not help to improve quality of life for residents in the territories, but rather contribute to the strengthening of the NGO elite. The writer is a researcher with NGO Monitor.
2018-11-30 00:00:00
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