Michael Pinto-Duschinsky’s important article (JC, March 21) reinforces NGO Monitor’s research on the political biases and false claims of leading "charities" and "human-rights groups" including Amnesty International, Christian Aid and Oxfam. However, his comments on NGO Monitor (JC, March 21) include four errors.

  1. NGO Monitor is an independent non-profit research organisation promoting critical debate on NGO activities, and we have no affiliations with any governments, political parties or politicians.
  2. Our annual funding statement is submitted to the Israeli charitable regulatory authorities.
  3. The New Israel Fund receives its share of attention  no more and no less  along with other major funders of political NGOs that actively promote the Durban strategy of demonisation of Israel. Contrary to Pinto-Duschinsky’s allegations, NIF donors and leaders are taking NGO Monitor’s analyses seriously, as seen in their recent decision to sign a public statement opposing anti-Israel agendas at the planned 2009 Durban review conference.
  4. As can be seen on our website, the claim that NGO Monitor publishes "unsubstantiated conclusions" is false. All reports are meticulously sourced, in contrast to many of the NGOs we analyse.

Gerald M Steinberg

Executive Director, NGO Monitor

Tel Hai St, Jerusalem, Israel