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www.ngo-monitor.org
January 25, 2018
NGO Monitor statement to
Folketinget
Foreign Affairs Committee:
“Open
consultation
on government decision to change guidelines for support for Palestinian and Israeli
organizations”
NGO Monitor is a Jerusalem-based independent research institute, which provides detailed
information and analysis, promotes accountability, and supports discussion on the reports
and activities of political non-governmental organizations (NGOs) claiming to advance
human rights and humanitarian agendas. We are a privately-funded, apolitical civil-society
organization, and do not receive funding from any government. We neither have
“foreign
policy principles”
nor endeavor to align ourselves with those of any government.
Unfortunately, some discussions that precipitated this hearing diverted from important issues
such as accountability and due diligence in matters related to public funds, and instead
attempted to question
NGO Monitor’s
independence and the credibility of our research. We
respectfully, but firmly, note that any such slander during the hearing is entirely unacceptable
and unbefitting the honorable setting of this Parliamentary Committee.
Our research is fully sourced
–
referencing official governmental documents
–
and is publicly
available on our website to all interested parties. For more than 15 years, NGO Monitor has
been calling for informed and detailed public debate on accountability and scrutiny in
government funding to human rights and humanitarian groups. As documented in our
extensive research, some of the organizations active in the context of the Arab-Israeli
conflict violate the trust of donor governments and promote unacceptable activities, including
antisemitism and incitement to violence. Some NGOs also have reported ties to recognized
terror organizations.
Recent years have seen more awareness amongst governments across Europe, including
the EU, Norway, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Spain. We welcome Denmark joining in
this call for enhanced due diligence.
Development aid and cooperation, like any other governmental program, should be subject
to public examination, government scrutiny, and independent evaluation. This is especially
true in areas where well-intentioned government funds could potentially fund incitement and
hamper peace efforts.
NGO Monitor will continue to provide in depth analysis and research on development and
humanitarian aid, and the role of human rights and humanitarian organizations in the context
of the Arab-Israeli conflict for the public benefit. It is our hope that through this research,
public funds will not be used to support violent and hateful causes.
Institute for NGO Research R.A. (ר"ע) #580465508