In the Media: Germany
Below is a compilation of articles highlighting NGO Monitor’s contributions to the broader conversation about NGOs, funding, and accountability in Germany. These include blogs and op-eds written by NGO Monitor and staff, as well as articles citing NGO Monitor, or otherwise relevant to our mission.
Germany and Israel: A missed opportunity
Olga Deutsch, The Times of Israel, May 17, 2017
Olga Deutsch argues that Germany must address its funding of highly politicized NGOs that manipulate human rights rhetoric and whitewash violence.
B’Tselem and Breaking the Silence – not the real danger
Olga Deutsch, NRG, May 10, 2017
NGO Monitor informed the German government, and although there was no government response, the PSCC was no longer included as a partner.
Hal G.P. Colebatch, The Spectator, May 6, 2017
Professor Gerald Steinberg, President of NGO Monitor, has said: ‘German funding to organisations like B’Tselem and Breaking the Silence is a small part of the problem; the government also provides money to radical organisations that delegitimise the right of the Jewish people to sovereign equality… Since the late 1990s influential human rights NGOs such as Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International have been at the forefront of attempts to delegitimise Israel. These international NGOs often work in concert with the Arab League and the Islamic bloc in UN frameworks, as well as with Israeli and Palestinian NGOs, promoting false allegations of ‘war crimes’, ‘massacres’ and other violations of human rights… These NGO condemnations fuel BDS campaigns, as well as lawfare campaigns in the International Criminal Court and other venues.’
Gerald M. Steinberg, Times of Israel, May 1, 2017
“The latest clash with German Foreign Minister Gabriel also involves sovereignty, and the right of the Jewish people to guide our own destiny, after 2000 years in which this was denied to us. If any country should be sensitive to this issue, it should be Germany, but like other Europeans, that sensitivity is absent. Gabriel, whose government is among the top funders and enablers of the Breaking the Silence activists (NIS 5.5 million in four years), as well as the New York Times editorial board, which attacked Netanyahu on this issue, were entirely tone deaf.”
Have you met with Chelsea Manning, Herrr Minister?
Ben-Dror Yemini, Ynet, April 30, 2017
“According to NGO Monitor’s listings, more than NIS 3.5 million were transferred to that same NGO from 2012 to 2014 by “foreign entities—in other words, by foreign countries or foundations supported by foreign countries, practically all European. Germany is in the picture too. This is not the way to advance peace. This is the way to perpetuate the conflict, as well as to support the Palestinian illusion of destroying Israel through a “right of return.””
German hypocrisy in Israel (German)
Ben-Dror Yemini, Cicero, April 28, 2017
It is permissible and necessary to criticize the policies of the Israeli government. But Germany and Foreign Minister Gabriel support organizations whose main concerns are the demonization of Israel. A guest contribution by the Israeli journalist Ben-Dror Yemini
Analysis: Germany’s Social Democrats Pivot toward PLO and Iran
Benjamin Weinthal, Jerusalem Post, April 27, 2017
“Prof. Gerald Steinberg, president of NGO Monitor, said “German funding to organizations like B’Tselem and Breaking the Silence is a small part of the problem; the government also provides money to radical organizations that delegitimize the right of the Jewish people to sovereign equality. This controversy [over Gabriel’s visit] is an opportunity to hold a serious dialogue between elected officials to solve the problems arising from the paralleled European links with Israeli political groups and NGOs.””
Israeli Leader Cancels Meeting After German Official Visits Protest Group
Ian Fisher, The New York Times, April 25, 2017
“NGO Monitor, a group critical of what it sees as bias against Israel among nongovernmental and rights groups, said the German government had given roughly $1.5 million to Breaking the Silence through various donors over the last four year.”
Anger Around Gabriel’s Visit to Israel (German)
De Bild, April 25, 2017
“These NGOs would not turn to Israeli society, but almost exclusively to foreign countries, explains Gerald Steinberg of the organization NGO Monitor, which monitors the work of these non-governmental organizations. “They are appealing to the international community to take action against Israel,” he says – and would be financed from abroad as well.”
Israeli political scientist talks about interference (German)
Europe Online Magazine, April 25, 2017
“The use of Israeli non-governmental organizations to move European ideologies and interests in Israel is seen as political manipulation in Israel,” said Gerald Steinberg of the German Press Agency on Tuesday. “This is unacceptable to Israel, who is always concerned about national independence and self-determination.”
German Govt Funds Radical NGOs That Incite Violence, Praise Terrorism
Hana Levi Julian, Jewish Press, April 25, 2017
“Research by the NGO Monitor has revealed the German government provides millions of euros to political advocacy NGOs in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza.”
Germany funds Palestinian organizations supporting terrorism and violence (Hebrew)
Adi Daniel, Channel 20, April 25, 2017
“Against the background of the diplomatic crisis with Germany, NGO Monitor publishes data according to which the German government funds a large number of Palestinian organizations, some of them supporters of terrorism with antisemitic rhetoric.”
“We asked to speak with the German FM, but did not receive a response” (Hebrew)
Yair Altman, Yisrael HaYom, April 25, 2017
“A report by the NGO Monitor research institute, distributed among 3,000 European parliamentarians, documents a disturbing pattern of action that shows that some European governments fund NGOs that incite and legitimize violence against civilians, some of which have ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, A terrorist organization recognized by the European Union, the United States, Canada and Israel.”
The Jerusalem Post, January 18, 2017
“Merkel has the right moral positions, but her government’s policies are often out of sync,” Bar-Ilan University political studies professor Gerald Steinberg told The Jerusalem Post. “The chancellor has been outspoken in condemning Iran’s antisemitism and genocidal threats,” Steinberg noted, but added that “Germany is leading the charge to do business with Tehran. And while Merkel calls BDS [Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions] unacceptable, German political foundations and church aid NGOs are active in promoting this form of warfare against Israel.”
In strong attack on Israel, German foreign minister says settlements jeopardize peace
Benjamin Weinthal, The Jerusalem Post, December 30, 2016
NGO Monitor, December 11, 2016
Der folgende Bericht untersucht die Finanzierung von Organisationen, die im arabisch-israelischen Konflikt aktiv sind, und die von den folgenden bundesdeutschen Einrichtungen unterstützt werden: der Zivile Friedensdienst (ZFD), die Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), die staatlich finanzierte Kirchenhilfe und das Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (IFA).
European Funded NGOs linked to PFLP Terror Network, IBA News (Hebrew)
NGO Monitor, November 22, 2016
Report from IBA News based on NGO Monitor research, European Funded NGOs linked to PFLP Terror Network
EU, terror and the transparency bill
Ron Jontof-Hutter, Israel Hayom, September 14, 2016
The EU, Terror-Funding and Israel’s Transparency Bill
Ron Jontof-Hutter, Algemeiner, August 17, 2016
German Federally Funded Church Organizations’ Support for NGOs Active in the Arab-Israeli Conflict
NGO Monitor, August 01, 2016
Church aid organizations in Germany, which receive most of their budgets from the government, are major funders of politicized NGOs in Israel and the PA.
[Opinion] New Report Examines German Federal Funding to Civil Society in Arab-Israeli Conflict
Olga Deutsch, Judische Allgemeine, July 28, 2016
“Transparenz und Nahostpolitik”
German Federal Frameworks Involving Civil Society in the Arab-Israeli Conflict
NGO Monitor, July 10, 2016
German federal funding is allocated to, amongst others, political advocacy NGOs that promote BDS and lawfare campaigns, through direct and indirect funding mechanisms.
NGO Monitor, April 12, 2016
German-Funded Goethe Institut to Host Event featuring Breaking the Silence
NGO Monitor, March 09, 2016
The Goethe Institut, which receives institutional funding from the German government, will host a panel featuring Yuli Novack, executive director of Breaking the Silence, enabling the organization to further its false narrative of victimization and censure.
