Naftali Balanson
About
Naftali Balanson is the Chief of Staff at NGO Monitor and has been with the organization for eight years. He oversees all of NGO Monitor’s publications and other output, helps develop strategic goals and objectives, and works closely with researchers, communications, and website staff.
Naftali has written extensively about BDS campaigns, NGO funding and transparency, and the relationship between governments and non-governmental organizations. Naftali has an MA in English Literature from Columbia University.
His articles and op-eds have appeared in many publications including the Jerusalem Post, Zeek Forward, The Jewish Chronicle, and Ynet.
Expertise
BDS
NGO Funding and Transparency
Governments and NGOs
Armed Conflict
Selected Articles
[Opinion] Unrwa, Hamas and the ‘Genocide’ Smear Against Israel
Naftali Balanson writes on how South Africa’s case at the ICJ is built on reports from groups with links to terrorist organizations.
[Opinion] The hidden role of international NGOs in Gaza humanitarian crisis
Naftali Balanson analyzes how aid is being diverted in Gaza.
[Opinion] NGOs lend ideological support to pogrom in southern Israel
Naftali Balanson analyzes NGO responses to the October 7 massacre.
All Articles
[Opinion] The New York Times Relies on Amnesty and HRW Sources in Misleading Gaza Video
Naftali Balanson discusses how the New York Times relies on NGOs known for their hostility to Israel.
[Opinion] NGOs drive Palestinian policy on COVID-19 vaccines
Naftali Balanson discusses how NGOs influenced the PA's vaccination policies.
[Opinion] The Return of the Gaza Numbers Game
Naftali Balanson examines the casualty statistics emerging from Gaza during the riots.
[Opinion] B'Tselem Must Take Responsibility for the Consequences of Its Actions
Naftali Balanson describes how B'Tselem has abandoned its work as a human rights NGO in favor of partisan political advocacy.
Letter to the Editor: B'Tselem post-truth on 'the occupation'
Naftali Balanson responds to an interview with B'Tselem Executive Director Hagai El-Ad, explaining that after being unable to convince the Israeli public to accept its views, B'Tselem has elected to go outside, by lobbying European governments and the UN to impose their views on the Israeli people.
[Opinion] Lessons from the Israeli Left: Civil Society Is No Substitute for Smart Electoral Politics
Naftali Balanson cautions against falling into the trap of the Israeli left, asserting that civil society can complement governmental politics but cannot replace it.
[Opinion] B'Tselem Does the Bidding of Repressive Regimes at the UN
Naftali Balanson discusses B'Tselem's appearance at the UN Security Council in New York.
[Opinion] Yes, Goldman Sachs Funds Hebron Settlers. And Charles Schwab Is Funding BDS
Naftali Balanson discusses the issue of private funding to NGOs active in the Arab-Israeli conflict, and the more pertinent issue of government funding that manipulates Israel's sovereignty and democracy.
[Opinion] Just Like Its Namesake, Amnesty's CSI: Gaza is About Psuedo-Forensics
Naftali Balanson illustrates that by appropriating the CSI brand, Amnesty has unwittingly provided insight into the fundamental problems with its Gaza Platform, as well as the flawed NGO narrative about the 2014 Gaza war.
[Opinion] A Deal with the Devil: When Aid Supports Terror Groups
Naftali Balanson asserts that humanitarian aid groups, as well as their funders, must establish better practices to minimize the risk of exploitation and prevent material aid from reaching terrorist organizations, including the Islamic State and Hamas.
[Opinion] NGOs and the Next 'Goldstone' Fiasco
Naftali Balanson maintains that NGOs claiming to promote human rights should be campaigning to eliminate the threat in the South, instead of preventing Israel from exercising the most basic human right the right to life.
מאמר דעה: שוברים שורות
נפתלי בלנסון מסביר כיצד ארגון שוברים שתיקה אינו מנסה "להעלות את המודעות למציאות היום יומית בשטחים", אלא במקום זאת מקיים מסעות הסברה בחו"ל כדי לקדם את דעותיהם הפוליטיות האישיות, ולעודד לחץ בינלאומי על ישראל. אם 'שוברים שתיקה' ואלו התומכים בארגון, אינם רוצים להיתפס כצבועים, עליהם להיות כנים בנוגע למורכבות העומדת בפני צה"ל, ולסיים את קמפיין הדמוניזציה הבינלאומי של הארגון.
[Opinion] Groups message emboldens enemies, delegitimizes Israel
Naftali Balanson argues that if Breaking the Silence and those who support it do not want to be seen as hypocritical, they should be honest about the complexities facing the Israeli army and end their international demonization campaign.
NGO Malpractice - The Political Abuse of Medicine, Morality, and Science
These groups use their humanitarian work as an opportunity to take partisan positions against Israel, using medical jargon and their reputations as medical experts to advocate on issues far removed from medicine in order to support Palestinian political goals.
[Opinion] Another day, another EU leak
Naftali Balanson and Ariella Kimmel examine how Breaking the Silence, an EU-funded NGO, were involved in leaking an internal EU document that was highly critical of Israeli policy.
[Opinion] Israeli political NGOs and the transparency law
Naftali Balanson discusses the impact of NGO Monitor's report on the Israeli NGO Transparency Law, and the angry and uncivil backlash of some political advocacy NGOs.
[Opinion] Who's afraid of a little transparency?
Naftali Balanson notes that instead of engaging critics, many members of the powerful NGO network demonize and censor them. The commitment of these same human rights NGOs to the principles of democracy and transparency in government disappears.
[Opinion] What are you hiding? NGOs, funding and websites
Naftali Balanson discusses the importance of transparency and the phenomenon of NGOs scrubbing their websites.
מאמר דעה: על מוסר ועל ארגוני זכויות האדם
נפתלי בלנסון על ההחלטה שלא מזמן קיבלה מועצת זכויות האדם, שנוסחה על ידי אבירי זכויות אדם דוגמת קובה, מאוריטניה וונצואלה, הקוראת "להקמת ועדת חקירה בינלאומית שתמונה על ידי נשיא המועצה, וזאת כדי לחקור את ההשלכות של ההתנחלויות הישראליות על הזכויות האזרחיות, הפוליטיות, הכלכליות, החברתיות והתרבותיות של העם הפלשתיני בשטחים הכבושים, כולל במזרח ירושלים".
[Opinion] Second chance for NGOs
Naftali Balanson explains that if Israeli NGOs support the latest UN "fact finding" mission on Israel, as they did the Goldstone Report, they "will further alienate themselves from Israeli society and will cement their negative reputations."
[Opinion] Not just any celebration
Jason Edelstein and Naftali Balanson discuss the silence of NGOs on Gilad Shalit and their failure to condemn the extortion exacted by Hamas, resulting in the release of hundreds of convicted criminals.
