To read the original article in French, click here.

[English summary]:

Prof. Steinberg, professor of Political Science at Bar-Ilan University and founder of NGO Monitor, sets off with an academic perspective, but simultaneously acts as an Israeli citizen concerned about the discourse of NGOs about his country, particularly as it contributes to Israel’s negative reputation among journalists, who assume that NGO statements are neutral and impartial. This phenomenon was launched at the 2001 Durban Conference against Racism, in which 2000 NGOs participated. This was a turning point in Gerald Steinberg’s path, leading to the foundation of NGO Monitor. Since then, he has denounced what he perceives as a radical and partial approach toward his country by seemingly respectable NGOs. HRW’s and AI’s treatment of the 2006 Lebanon War serves to illustrate this point. "They don’t bother to check the other version of the story before coming to conclusions. There is only one version for them." This is related to the fact that after the fall of the Berlin Wall, NGOs lost their raison d’etre and recycled themselves, now dealing with war and peace, in which they have no expertise. NGO Monitor’s aim is, therefore, to sensitize public opinion to this unacceptable situation. 

As war is often fuelled by money, this might turn out to be the weak point of NGOs. Consequently, Steinberg meets with funders, whether governments (including the Canadian one) or private foundations, explaining that NGOs engage in propaganda under cover of humanitarian activities. "Canada, for example, was among the main funders of the Durban conference. This arises from the very naïve and very Canadian idea that dialogue is always good and that NGOs must participate in the civil society to which they belong."

NGO Monitor’s discovery that CIDA funds politicized NGOs has alarmed Ottawa, which has since stopped funding such organizations and has announced its withdrawal from Durban II. While Steinberg refuses to attribute these changes entirely to the work of his organization, he does note a positive evolution with regard to HRW. "At least once a week HRW issues a statement on an Arab country or Iran, and this is progress toward a more universal vision."  Steinberg also notes that his approach has had repercussions beyond the Middle East, as in Colombia and Sri Lanka, where "other scholars are starting to question the ‘agenda’ of NGOs. They often come to the conclusion that they are not always so virtuous."