(JNi.media) NGO Monitor, an organization and archival website dedicated to keeping transparent Israeli left-leaning non-governmental groups engaged in anti-Israeli activities, especially those that receive their funding from outside Israel, has issued a proposal for European government funding guidelines.
NGO Monitor argues that as the European Union has consistently stated its goals of upholding and promoting universal values through its foreign policy by encouraging dialogue regarding human rights and democracy, for these goals to be realized, they must be advanced in a manner that promotes public accountability and transparency for European taxpayers and for the citizens of the countries being engaged through these funding arrangements. Similarly, dispersal of taxpayer funds to foreign NGOs should be consistent with the values and policies of the EU and of its member states, as well as of Norway and Switzerland.
This is particularly true, argues the Israeli watchdog group, of funding for Israeli NGOs. The scale and nature of foreign government funding for Israeli groups is unique and raises many issues regarding relations between sovereign and democratic countries.
According to NGO Monitor, the impact on Israel is significant in many different dimensions and requires the involvement of the democratic oversight institutions, including the government and the Knesset. In this process, it is necessary to address questions related to transparency and sovereignty, including funding used to manipulate the democratic process, as well as for external demonization. By addressing these issues jointly and reaching understandings governing such funding, Israel and Europe will be able to strengthen their shared democratic values, advance constructive dialogue and promote human rights in a manner consistent with the foreign policy of European governments.
So, here are the NGO Monitor recommendations for European government funding guidelines (they are few and simple):
Principles
No funding for NGOs involved in anti-Semitism
No funding for NGOs involved in terrorism/terrorism supporters/terrorist affiliated staff
No funding for organization that deny Israel’s right to define itself as a Jewish state, that promote one-state frameworks, or support “right of return” claims for millions of refugee descendants.
No funding for NGOs involved in BDS.
No funding for NGO’s promoting anti-Israel lawfare.
Mechanisms
Transparency and reporting: The Israeli and European governments, Knesset members, and comptroller and audit frameworks, must create independent review frameworks on these issues. These frameworks would be responsible for publishing real-time (monthly or quarterly) information on developments involving European funding for all Israeli organizations, including new proposed allocations and evaluations of ongoing funding to engender greater accountability and transparency. (European participants would include representatives from the EU, individual member states, Norway and Switzerland.)
These joint mechanisms will be tasked with negotiating agreed guidelines under the different categories of European funding for NGOs, including funding designated as related to promoting peace, human rights, and humanitarian aid. In addition, guidelines would adopt or adapt existing agreed definitions which would govern funding for NGOs that are involved antisemitic or discriminatory advocacy.
NGO Monitor’s proposed guidelines come on the heel of Knesset legislation being bandied about currently, most notably by Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked (Bayit Yehudi), attempting to increasing the transparency of NGOs.