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Michigan Attorney General calls for investigation of Ford Foundation spending on political campaigns
Detroit News, April 2 2006
The article cites criticism that the "Ford Foundation grants supported groups that essentially turned a U.N. World Conference Against Racism five years ago into a platform for anti-Semitic rants, that it backs political correctness on college campuses, that its funds could end up backing violence or terrorism. In a Nov. 17, 2003, letter to Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., foundation president Berresford said "we deeply regret that grantees may have taken part in unacceptable behavior" and said the new grants will "include new prohibitions against all forms of bigotry and against calls for the destruction of any state." However, as NGO Monitor analyses have demonstrated, the Ford Foundation continues to fund NGOs promoting the Durban strategy.
Arab Association for Human Rights accuses Israel of Institutional Racism - The EU funded Arab Association for Human Rights (HRA) accused Israel of an "ongoing process of overt racist incitement against this [Arab] minority, both by the state and official authorities and by the Jewish majority" in relation to an incident in the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth 3 March. Despite the fact that the attack was carried out by civilians with disturbed personal histories, one of whom also has a record of mental illness, HRA claimed that the Israeli government was responsible. In a six-page report, the institute stated that "the State [of Israel] holds responsibility for the attack in that they helped create an atmosphere of racism that legitimized attacks on the minority and their holy places." HRA has made similar accusations in the past, using human rights claims to promote the Durban strategy.
Christian Aid, Sabeel, the Middle East Forum of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI), the Joint Advocacy Initiative (JAI) of the East Jerusalem YMCA, Pax Christi and others participated in an "International Church Action for Peace in Palestine and Israel advocacy initiative", reported in NGO Monitor's February's Digest, which took place between 12-19 March.
A statement made by "Church leaders" in Jerusalem promoted the Palestinian narrative, implied that Israeli actions are the root cause of violence in the region and absolved the Palestinians of any responsibility in the conflict. At the event in London's Westminster Central Hall, organized by CTBI and Christian Aid, the Rt. Rev Michael Langrish, Bishop of Exeter said "this is not a one off, but part of a strategy of awareness in our churches."
Christian Aid continues to promote organizations and events that advance a political agenda, which consistently blames Israel for the ongoing conflict. The biased and politicized nature of the week-long event was evident in the "solidarity mission" that visited the Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem and "took part in a candlelit vigil for peace next to the separation wall at Qalandiya, close to Ramallah." Notably absent was any attempt to understand or acknowledge Palestinian attacks against Israel and the history of the conflict.
Jerusalem Center for Social and Economic Rights (JCSER) continues to use human rights rhetoric to attack Israel
The Jerusalem Center for Social and Economic Rights (JCSER) declared in a press release of 11 March that the Israeli closure of the West Bank was "a gross and clear violation of article 33 of the fourth Geneva Convention." The closure was in response to numerous threats of terrorist attacks during the period of the festival of Purim. These warnings were proved credible after three suspected suicide bombers were caught inside Israel on the 21 March and 2 April and a suicide bombing on March 30 killed four Israelis outside the Kedumim settlement. This exemplifies JCSER's continued use of human rights rhetoric to attack Israel.
International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) convenes Australia national hearing
The Geneva-based International Commission of Jurists, which has been active in promoting an anti-Israeli agenda, convened its "Australia national hearing" on 14 and 15 March. The panel seeks "to examine the compatibility of laws, policies and practices, which are justified expressly or implicitly as necessary to counter terrorism, with international human rights law and, where applicable, with international humanitarian law." Participants on the panel include Mary Robinson who was the UN Human Rights Commissioner from 1997 to 2002 and presided over the World Conference Against Racism in Durban, September 2001, where Zionism was equated with racism. Other panelists include Arthur Chaskalson of South Africa, Georges Abi Saab of Egypt, Hina Jilani of Pakistan and Robert K. Goldman from the U.S. Future hearings will cover countries in the Middle East.
Human Rights Watch letter to Knesset condemning terror suspect detention bill
On 15 March, Human Rights Watch (HRW) sent a letter to Knesset Members calling on them to reject a bill regarding laws of detention of terror suspects, arguing that it would "create a two-tiered system" which would be more stringent for non-residents. While acknowledging that "Israel faces grave security threats and has a duty to protect its citizens" HRW argued that the laws aimed at combating terrorism must be "applied in a non-discriminatory manner." The letter compared the proposed bill to similar counter-terrorism legislation in other countries such as the U.K. and Australia. In response to these complaints, also made by Amnesty International, Adalah, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel and the Public Committee Against Torture (PCATI), Committee chairman Michael Eitan defended the bill stating that the reason the laws were harsher than in other countries was because few other countries experienced the level of terrorism that Israel does.
US Bill to channel more Palestinian aid via NGOs
The International Relations Committee of the US House of Representatives voted 36-2 to approve H.R. 4681, the Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act. This legislation, introduced by Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fl) and Congressman Tom Lantos (D-CA) would ban all non-humanitarian aid to the Hamas-run Palestinian Authority (PA), and channel more aid via non-governmental organizations. US legislation currently bars all funding to NGOs that promote terror, and that refuse to abide by the guidelines on terrorism.
See also: "US to Boost Palestinian Humanitarian Aid - Sources"
and Gerald Steinberg, "Funding NGOs is no solution," Jerusalem Post, February 11, 2006
Service for Peace, an NGO that seeks to "deepen cooperation between diverse groups and communities and the world," led a delegation of volunteers to take part in hurricane relief activities in McLain, Mississippi, which was badly damaged by Hurricane Katrina. A number of Israeli members of this NGO participated in this delegation. The volunteers helped restore a kindergarten and homes in McLain and then moved on to New Orleans, where they helped restore a synagogue and several damaged homes. Service for Peace is active in Israel and the Palestinian territories and has held a number of positive bridge-building trips and activities both in the region and in America.
The War Crimes Prosecution Watch, a bi-weekly e-newsletter was launched on 20 February. It is published by the International Justice Practice of Case Western Reserve University School of Law. The newsletter collects official documents and articles from major news sources "detailing and analyzing salient issues pertaining to the investigation and prosecution of war crimes throughout the world." The March 20 edition included reports on cases in Indonesia regarding East Timor, the Saddam Hussein trial in Iraq and the situation in Darfur, Sudan. |
