Summary

  • NGO Monitor’s detailed analysis shows that many of the “civil society” organizations funded under the EC’s Partnership for Peace Programme (PfP) exacerbate the conflict and promote biased campaigns against Israel.
  • EC officials claim to receive professional evaluations of the impact of these projects, but such evaluations are not made available for review. The evidence that is available indicates that most of these EC-funded projects go to a very narrow section of Israeli and Palestinian society, and do not achieve the claimed objectives.
  • Highly politicized NGOs that receive EC-PfP funding include ICAHD, Ir Amim, Machsom Watch, ARIJ, and Coalition of Women for Peace (one of this group’s members is under investigation by the Israeli Justice Ministry). The results of the activities of these organizations do not demonstrate that they foster “peace, tolerance, and non-violence in the Middle East.”
  • Some EC-funded NGOs use rhetoric that promotes the Palestinian narrative and demonization of Israel, including “apartheid,” “state terrorism,” “naqba” (referring to the founding of Israel as a catastrophe), “colonization,” and “ghettos.”
  • The prime activities of some EC-funded NGOs in this framework are focused on interfering with and manipulating Israeli democracy and politics. The language used by the EC on this is direct: “to change public policy” by targeting “Israeli decision makers and those who influence them (e.g., aides, advisors, the international diplomatic community).”
  • More than half of the PfP projects show a clear and consistent bias in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
  • A number of PfP awards and recipients lack any transparency, and it is impossible to evaluate their activities or impacts, if any.

Overview

As part of the European Commission’s funding for NGOs (see NGO Monitor publication Europe’s Hidden Hand), the EC distributes €5-10 million annually under the Partnerships for Peace Programme (PfP) to Israeli, Palestinian, and European civil society organizations. While the EU claims to support “civil society initiatives that promote peace, tolerance and non violence in the Middle East,” the evidence shows that many of the grantees from the 2004 and 2005 budgets (Europe’s Hidden Hand, pp. 43-44) reflect a very narrow political perspective, and exacerbate the conflict through biased campaigns against Israel.

Since the European Commission’s decision-making process lacks transparency, the basis for this politicized support is unknown and substantial questions of proper oversight are raised. In one case — Ir Amim, an Israeli NGO that claims to focus on Palestinian rights in Jerusalem — the EU admits to funding the NGO’s advocacy “to change public policy” by targeting “Israeli decision makers and those who influence them (e.g., aides, advisors, the international diplomatic community).” This constitutes an attempt by a group of EU officials to directly interfere with the internal affairs of Israel, and to manipulate Israeli democracy to conform with the dominant EU “political vision.”

(Note: This analysis does not include EC funding for numerous NGO projects through EIDHR and ECHO. The analysis of these programs will be included in future NGO Monitor updates.)

For the purpose of analysis, these EC programs can be divided into four groups:

  1. PfP funded NGOs and projects that consistently reflect a pro-Palestinian bias 
  2. PfP funded NGOs and projects that generally oppose Israeli policies and positions
  3. PfP funding NGOs and projects that do not show a clear and consistent bias in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict
  4. PfP funded NGOs and projects — insufficient information available

PfP funded NGOs and projects that consistently reflect a pro-Palestinian bias

ICAHD (www.icahd.org)

Israel
  • PfP-grant (2004/5): Action title: Re-Framing: Providing a Coherent Paradigm of Peace to the Israeli Public. Action location: Israel, West Bank. Action duration (Months): 24 months. Grant Amount EUR: 472,786. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 80%.1

There is no evidence of any ICAHD activities consistent with the proclaimed goal of “Providing a Coherent Paradigm of Peace to the Israeli Public.” ICAHD promotes a highly politicized narrative of the conflict, falsely accusing Israel of “ethnic cleansing” and “state terrorism.”  Jeff Halper, who heads this NGO, frequently uses the term “apartheid” in his public appearances and publications, and was a prominent participant in the “Free Gaza” boat trips and campaigns in support of Hamas  in August 2008.

Machsom Watch (www.machsomwatch.org)

Israel
  • PfP-grant (2005/6): Action title: Machsom Watch. Action location: Israel, West Bank. Action duration (Months): 36 months. Grant Amount EUR: 251,650. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 70%.

Machsom Watch statements and publications regularly omit the context of terror and employ human rights terminology, “apartheid” rhetoric and emotive and politically charged language that contribute to the demonization of Israel.  In many cases, their allegations are either inaccurate or unverifiable; in one instance, Machsom Watch accused Israeli soldiers of forcing a Palestinian to play his violin and laughing at him, even though the Machsom Watch representatives could not hear the conversation and their videotape discredits their account.

Coalition of Women for Peace (http://coalitionofwomen.org/home/english)

Israel
  • PfP-grant (2005/6): Action title: Promoting Support for Peace by Reframing “security” as Human Security. Action location: Israel. Action duration (Months): 24 months. Grant Amount EUR: 247,954. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 66%.

Highly politicized umbrella organization that vigorously opposes Israeli policies. Includes Machsom Watch (see above). One of its members (New Profile) is under investigation by the Israeli government for “incitement to avoid military service”. Member-organizations use “apartheid” and “naqba” (pp. 19-20) rhetoric to delegitimize Israel.

Applied Research Institute – Jerusalem (www.arij.org)

Palestinian

  • PfP-grant (2004/5): Action title: Monitoring the Israeli Settlements Activities in the OPT and Assessing their Impacts on the Viability of a Future Palestinian Statehood. Action location: West Bank, Gaza. Action duration (Months): 32 months. Grant Amount EUR: 499,584. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 80%.

ARIJ takes a highly political and biased approach to its research; involved in the anti-Israel divestment campaign. The group changes the name of the EC-funded project on its website labeling it as, “Monitoring Israeli Colonizing Activities in the Palestinian West Bank & Gaza.”  Project documents use highly charged language such as “colonies“, “transfer”, and “land grab”.  A “historical” summary on the project website claims that in 1948, Israel took four-fifths “more land than the United Nations’ 1947 Partition Plan had proposed,” omitting any reference to Arab aggression and rejectionism.  A December 2008 publication, sponsored with project funds, calls Jerusalem’s mayor a “racist” who supports “ethnic cleansing.”  It is unclear how ARIJ’s use of its funding furthers peace or a two-state solution.

The Centre for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation (http://www.ccrr-pal.org/)

Palestinian

  • PfP-grant (2005/6): Action title: Peace Education in Palestine Schools. Action location: West Bank. Action duration (Months): 24 months. Grant Amount EUR: 125,200. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 80%.

Claims to: “cherish the values of peace, reconciliation, forgiveness, respect and hope…. seeks to strengthen democracy, human rights and justice as they are essential to a lasting peace.”

Calls for boycott of those Israeli academics or Israeli academic institutions that support the occupation (“for more than 50 years”, i.e. Israel as a Jewish state) as well as those that do not take a position on it. CCRR supports the “right of return,” and “the establishment of an autonomous state with Jerusalem as its capital.” The founder and director, Noah Salameh, uses “apartheid” and “Naqba” rhetoric, and describes Israel as “the enemy.” These activities are entirely inconsistent with the proclaimed goal of “Peace Education in Palestine Schools.”

Ir Amim (http://www.ir-amim.org.il/eng/)

Israel

  • PfP-grant (2004/5): Action title: Penultimate Jerusalem: Overcoming the Obstacles to Final Status in Jerusalem. Action location: Israel. Action duration (Months): 36 months. Grant Amount EUR: 475,160. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 80%.

Often opposes Israeli policy through “legal advocacy aimed at halting or mitigating unilateral actions that harm the fabric of life in Jerusalem, and create obstacles to reaching an agreed-upon future for the city and the region.” Advocates and campaigns for Palestinian position on Jerusalem, directed at non-Israeli journalists, diplomats and opinion makers. This constitutes an attempt by a group of EU officials to directly interfere with the internal affairs of Israel, and to manipulate Israeli democracy to conform with the dominant EU “political vision.”

Galilee Society (http://www.gal-soc.org/en/)

Israeli-Arab Sector
  • PfP-grant (2005/6): Action title: Strengthening Civil Society in Israel and Empowering the Palestinian Minority via the Applied Use of Rikaz Database. Action location: Israel. Action duration (Months): 24 months. Grant Amount EUR: 188,735. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 70%.

The database project has a stated aim of Palestinian advocacy — against “systematic discrimination” — in Israel and internationally. “Statistics” include demography, education, employment, labor force, living standards, social indicators, and health. Unclear how the database specifically advances “peace, tolerance, and non-violence.” Galilee Society a member of Ittijah, which calls for boycotts of Israel and promotes the mantras of “Zionism is Racism” and “Israel is an Apartheid state.” Galilee Society has partnered with leading anti-Israel NGOs such as Adalah.

Community Radio Station in Birzeit Area (http://shababfm.org/en/)

Palestinian and Europe
  • PfP-grant (2005/6): Action title: Cooperazione Per lo Sviluppo dei Paesi Emergenti  Onlus – COSPE. Action location: West Bank. Action duration (Months): 36 months. Grant Amount EUR: 339,699. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 80%.

Programs edited in Rome, as part of “the frame of the EU project.” Radio station programs include “Naqba talk.” In this episode, Mustapha Barghouthi of the Palestinian Medical Relief Center employed “ghetto” and “apartheid” rhetoric in reference to the security barrier and Israeli checkpoints. Luisa Morgantini, member of the European Parliament, also participated in this program, expressing her “shame” as a European for failing to end “60 years of Naqba” and the “brutal military occupation.” She speaks of a “right under international law to [] military struggle [by the Palestinians].” Another program, “Sports under the siege,” links to a website that asserts “it is wrong to celebrate” Israel’s 60 years of independence.

Agenda – The Israeli Center for Strategic Communication (http://www.agenda.org.il/english/)

Israel
  • PfP-grant (2005/6): Action title: Reframing the Images of the Arab-Palestinian Minority within Israel in the mainstream media debate – a shift from “security-threats” to “legitimate voices”. Action location: Israel. Action duration (Months): 24 months. Grant Amount EUR: 172,407. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 70%.

Agenda’s goal is to impact the way social issues are presented in media discourse and to help organizations working for social change to promote their goals more effectively.

Majority of the Center’s clients include partisan NGOs that are active in attacking Israeli anti-terror policies and many seek to undermine the Jewish nature of the state, including Adalah, Bimkom, Coalition of Women for Peace, Commitment to Peace and Social Justice, Ilam Center, Ir Amim, Ittijah, Machsom Watch, Mossawa, Oxfam, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, , Galilee Society, Public Committee Against Torture.  Executive Director Vered Livne served as the Executive Director of ACRI and the Spokeswoman of Peace Now.

Palestinian Centre for Peace and Democracy (http://www.pcpd.org/)

Palestinian
  • PfP grant (2004/5): Action title: Strategic Peace: An Introduction, Education, Reiteration and Follow up to the foundation of Peace with Israel conducted among the Palestinian people. Action location: West Bank. Action duration (Months): 36 months. Grant amount EUR: 271,470. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 79.3%.

Promotes the implementation of the “right of return.” Refers to “grotesque Colonial Wall” (“Strategic Plan 2007-2010,” pg. 20). Includes reports by Al Haq and B’Tselem, links to radical organizations and individuals.

PfP funded NGOs and projects that generally oppose Israeli policies and positions

Keshev (http://www.keshev.org.il/siteEn/default.asp)

Israel
  • PfP-grant (2005/6): Action title: More Than Words: A joint Palestinian-Israeli Action to Improve Media Coverage of the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict. Action location: Israel, West Bank, Italy. Action duration (Months): 24 months. Grant Amount EUR: 484,957. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 65.6%.

Uses “apartheid” rhetoric. The major Palestinian partner for this project is Miftah, an NGO which promotes anti-Israel demonization, supports boycotts of Israel and was very active in the infamous 2001 Durban conference. Miftah also described the first female Palestinian suicide bombers as “the beginning of a string of Palestinian women dedicated to sacrificing their lives for the cause.”

H.L. Education for Peace Ltd.

(Geneva Initiative) Israel

  • PfP-grant (2005/6): Action title: Building on the Geneva Initiative model to encourage the Israeli public and policy environment to support a negotiated permanent status agreement and dialogue for moving to a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in the new political context of a Hamas majority in the Palestinian Parliament. Action location: Israel. Action duration (Months): 12 months. Grant Amount EUR: 287,877. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 75%.
  • PfP-grant (2004/5): Action title: Using the Geneva initiative model to encourage the public and policy environment for a post Gaza move to negotiated permanent status peace. Action location: Israel. Action duration (Months): 12 months. Grant Amount EUR: 220,000. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 73.3%.

The Geneva Accord is presented as a “model Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement,” claiming to “provide realistic and achievable solutions on all issues, based on previous official negotiations, international resolutions, the Quartet Roadmap, Clinton Parameters, Bush Vision, and Arab Peace Initiative.” The initiative is supported by individual Israelis from the political Left and Palestinians, operating as private citizens outside the framework of official negotiations. Israeli counterpart to the Palestinian Peace Coalition Association (see below). Many of this NGO’s activities are directed as Israeli voters, and designed to influence elections.

Palestinian Peace Coalition Association (http://www.ppc.org.ps/)

Palestinian
  • PfP-grant (2005/6): Action title: The strengthening of Palestinian moderate and rationale voices through community activities, public outreach and diversifying and expanding the base of support for a comprehensive negotiated endgame settlement of Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Action location: West Bank. Action duration (Months): 24 months. Grant Amount EUR: 411,859.26. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 80%.

Vision: “To end the Israeli occupation and to achieve a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace based on a two-state solution, where the independent state of Palestine exists alongside Israel, separated by the borders of June 4th 1967 with East Jerusalem its capital.” And “To reach a just and agreed upon settlement for the question of Palestinian Refugee in accordance with United Nations Resolutions, including UN general Assembly resolution 194, and the Arab Peace Initiative.” PPC claims to have organized “workshops, lectures and public debates” in the Palestinian community based on the framework of the Geneva Initiative.  Palestinian counterpart to H.L. Education (see above).

Oxford Research Group (http://www.oxfordresearchgroup.org.uk/)

Europe
  • PfP-grant (2005/6): Action title: From Crisis to Opportunity – Inclusive Approaches to the Arab-Israeli Conflict. Action location: Israel, West Bank, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Turkey, EU. Action duration (Months): 24 months. Grant Amount EUR: 500,000. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 79.77%.

The publication, The Arab Peace Initiative: Why Now?, written by Gabrielle Rifkind and based on a conference in which the identities of most of the participants are unknown, generally reflects the position of Arab League (pp. 4-5). The text seeks to pressure the Israeli leadership and public into accepting the terms of the Arab Peace Initiative (5-6), while generally ignoring or rejecting Israeli concerns and criticism.

Middle East Publications / Palestine-Israel Journal (http://www.pij.org/index.php)

Palestinian and Israel
  • PfP-grant (2004/5): Action title: Bridging the Dialogue Gap. Action location: West Bank, Israel. Action duration (Months): 24. Grant amount EUR: 499,853. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 80%.

Funded by the EC, the latest Palestine-Israel Journal (quarterly – 1948: Sixty Years After: Vol 15 No. 1 & 2, 2008), promotes the Nakba theme from a narrow Palestinian perspective only. The Israelis involved are from the left-wing and highly critical of Israeli policies. This does not encourage mutual understanding and compromise.

Parents Circle – Families Forum (http://www.theparentscircle.com/)

Israel and Palestinian
  • PfP-grant (2004/5): Action title: Building Trust and Hope. Action location: Israel, West Bank, and Gaza. Action duration (Months): 24 months. Grant Amount EUR: 500,000. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 75.75%.

A “joint reconciliation mission” comprised of Israeli and Palestinian bereaved families. Leaders use this platform to attack Israeli policies, and have been involved in PCFF-sponsored anti-Israeli-policy events.

Associazione Comunita Papa Giovanni XXIII

Europe
  • PfP-grant (2004/5): Action title: So far, so close: the conflict transformation in the most marginalized area of the West Bank. Action location: West Bank. Action duration (Months): 12 months. Grant Amount EUR: 66,000. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 80%.

Works with far-Left Israeli groups that advocate refusal of service in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF);  provides funding to the Alternative Information Center (AIC), an NGO with an extreme anti-Israel political agenda (including demonization of Israel and boycotts) that often participates in one-sided conferences using terms such as “apartheid,” etc. No evidence of contribution to conflict transformation or peace.

In the project summary publication entitled “So Close, So far, Nonviolence in the South Hebron Hills” (the cover of which includes the EU logo), and printed in Arabic, Hebrew and English, this NGO repeats the Palestinian narrative: “Settlers have destroyed caves, poured poison inside water tanks, spread poison on fields, and prevented Palestinians from accessing their fields” (pp. 9-10). The booklet also promotes the positions of Israeli soldiers such as Itamar Shapira who refuse to serve as a reservist in the IDF (19). In contrast, this booklet includes very limited mention of the Palestinian terror attacks and their impacts.

All for Peace Radio (http://www.allforpeace.org/)

  • PfP-grant (2005/6): Action title: All for Peace Radio. Action location: Israel, West Bank. Action duration (Months): 12 months. Grant Amount EUR: 232,633.75. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 80%.

The radio station “broadcast[s] in Hebrew, Arabic and English, which aimed at a wide audience amongst both people (Israelis and Palestinians) and provides messages of peace, cooperation, mutual understanding, coexistence and hope.” However, the station provides a regular forum for Machsom Watch, a highly political anti-Israel NGO (see above).

Panorama (http://www.panoramacenter.org/)

Palestinian
  • PfP-grant (2004/5): Action title: The Palestinian-Israeli Peace NGO Forum. Action location: West Bank, Gaza, Israel. Action duration (Months): 24 months. Grant amount EUR: 500,000. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 80%.

This project “promot[es] ongoing cooperation and interaction between active Palestinian and Israeli Peace NGOs” through meetings, workshops, and an online community. Mission statement states, “Our joint activity is based on a shared vision of a mutually agreed upon resolution of the conflict, which ensures the dignity, liberty and security of both nations.” As NGO Monitor has reported, many of the 120 participating NGOs — including Bat Shalom, Machsom Watch, and Keshev  — are problematic.

Machon Mifne – The Amuta (Association) for Developments of New Educational Treaty Israel

  • PfP-grant (2004/5): Action title: Peace and Democracy Programs Directed to Traditional Religious and Anti-Peace Constituencies in Israel. Action location: Israel. Action duration (Months): 12 months. Grant Amount EUR: 296,000. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 79.6

Machon Mifne was founded and is directed by Tzvia Greenfeld, an Israeli political activist from the Orthodox (haredi) sector, and strong critic of Israeli government policy in the Meretz party who became a Knesset member in 2008.  She has described the work of the institute as “Promoting the Peace education, tolerance and democracy in the religious society”. Despite the large grant from the EC (which appears to be the major source of funding), this organization has a very low profile. The internet site is operated by the Virtual School for Democracy and Peace, and most of the sections have been “under construction” for a significant period.

Neve Shalom / Wahat al Salaam School for Peace (http://nswas.org/rubrique83.html)

Israel, Israeli-Arab Sector, Palestinian
  • PfP-grant (2005/6): Action title: Negotiation for our future. Action Location: Israel, West Bank, and Gaza. Action duration (Months): 28 months. Grant amount EUR: 385,665. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 80%.

The project is “[c]onducted jointly with the Center for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation” (see above), and “an Israeli delegation is negotiating a peace treaty with a Palestinian delegation.” In other “negotiations” held by the School for Peace, Mossawa’s position paper — which ignores Jewish historical ties to Israel and calls for an end of Israel’s national anthem and flag — and Adalah’s “Democratic Constitution” — which demands that Israel recognize the “right of return” and calls for a “bilingual and multicultural state” that limits Jewish immigration — were the starting points for further discussion that opposed the Jewish foundation of Israeli society. The Palestinian co-director of the Neve Shalom school labeled the Second Lebanon War “the criminal war in Lebanon.”

Holy Land Trust Palestine

Palestinian
  • PfP-grant (2004/5): Action title: Empowering citizen peace building. Action Location: West Bank. Action duration (Months): 15 months. Grant amount EUR: 156,543. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 80%.

The goal of the “Empowering citizen peace building” project is “to strengthen the Palestinian national nonviolence movement… [through] training given was in nonviolence, conflict transformation skills, negotiation skills and final status issues.” According to news reports, participants attended a “nonviolent Palestinian demonstration against the Wall and settlements.”

PfP funding NGOs and projects that do not show a clear and consistent bias in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict

Sarah Herzog – Ezrath Nashim Memorial Hospital (http://www.herzoghospital.org/)

Israel
  • PfP-grant (2005/6): Action title: Child Rehabilitation Initiative for Safety and Hope “CHERISH”: Community and Family Initiative. Action location: Israel, West Bank and Gaza. Action duration (Months): 18 months. Grant Amount EUR: 278,327. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 80%.

This is a joint project of Israel Center for Treatment of Psychotrauma of Herzog Hospital, the Center for Development in Primary Health Care at Al Quds University, and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. Aims to “ease the present realities of Israeli and Palestinian children…given the widespread exposure to traumatic events in both societies.” Focuses on providing professional care, especially to intervene with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (http://www.kas.de/)

Europe
  • PfP-grant (2005/6): Action title: Utilizing Middle East Civic Education as a Leverage for Peace. Action location: Israel, West Bank, Jordan. Action duration (Months): 24 months. Grant amount EUR: 499,545.10. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 80%.

Save a Child’s Heart (http://www.saveachildsheart.com/home1.html)

Israel
  • PfP-grant (2004/5): Action title: The Heart of the Matter. Action location: West Bank, Gaza, Israel. Action duration (Months): 12 months. Grant amount EUR: 499,039.04. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 66.78%.
  • PfP-grant (2005/6): Action title: The Heart of the Matter. Action location: Israel, West Bank and Gaza. Action duration (Months): 12 months. Grant amount EUR: 500,000. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 50%.

Provides “urgently needed pediatric heart surgery and follow-up care for children from third world and developing countries.”

Agan Beit Natufa (http://www.taeq.org/indexHebrew.htm – most of the site is under construction.)

Israeli-Arab Sector and Israel and Palestinian
  • PfP-grant (2005/6): Action title: Environmental Management and Planning as a Tool for Promoting Sustainable Coexistence Between Israelis and Palestinians. Action location: Israel, West Bank. Action duration (Months): 36 months. Grant Amount EUR: 477,211. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 78%.

It appears to have received another PfP grant to deal with toxic chemicals (2007-9), but this may be the same project.

Windows – Channels for Communication (http://www.win-peace.org/)

Palestinian and Israel
  • PfP-grant (2005/6): Action title: Windows – Hebrew Arabic Magazine for Youth. Action location: Israel, West Bank. Action duration (Months): 24 months. Grant Amount EUR: 300,000. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 76%.

Declares that “[b]esides attempting to reduce — even if only slightly — the physical suffering of the population, we send with these packages a message of solidarity: there are many people in Israel who oppose inhumane actions conducted against the Palestinian population in the territories and comprehend the suffering these policies cause. Similarly, we distribute aid packages to people in need within Israel.”

Salzburg Seminar Global Forum (http://www.salzburgglobal.org/2009/index.cfm)

Europe
  • PfP-grant (2005/6): Action title: Institute for Historical Justice and Reconciliation Middle East Project. Action location: West Bank, Austria. Action duration (Months): 30 months. Grant Amount EUR: 277,796.73. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 78.7%.

Claims to “engage[] historians and public figures from the Palestinian Authority and Israel in a sustained dialogue regarding unresolved historic legacies in the region as a means of promoting reconciliation and mutual understanding… [I]t is instead a confidence-building measure intended to provide “building blocks” from which current or future peace initiatives can benefit.

Bitterlemons.org (www.bitterlemons.org)

Israel and Palestinian
  • Pfp-grant (2005/6): Action title: Israeli-Palestinian internet dialogue. Action location: Israel, West Bank. Action duration (Months): 36 months. Grant amount EUR: 368,280. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 80%.

Bitterlemons is “a website that presents Israeli and Palestinian viewpoints on prominent issues of concern. It focuses on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and peace process…Its goal is to contribute to mutual understanding through the open exchange of ideas.”

Commitment to Peace and Social Justice (http://www.commitment.org.il/article_page.asp?id=65&scid=14)

Israel
  • Pfp-grant (2004/5): Action title: Civic Action Groups for Peace and Social Justice. Action location: Israel. Action duration (Months): 24 months. Grant amount EUR: 179,335. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 75%.

Activities appear to be focused on unemployment and employee/unemployment rights.

Royal Institute of International Affairs (RIIA): (http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/)

Europe
  • PfP-grant (2004/5): Action title: The regional dimension of the Palestinian Refugee Issue. Action location: West Bank/Gaza, Israel, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus, United Kingdom, Belgium. Action duration (Months): 36 months. Grant amount EUR: 497,022. Percentage of total eligible action costs: 80%.

The project aims to “facilitat[e] dialogue between Arab and international stakeholders on the Palestinian refugee issue.” Has published two academic papers on the history of negotiations over Palestinian refugees and Israeli perspectives on resolving the issue.

Instituto per la Cooperazione Universitaria Onlus (Onlus University, Institute for Cooperation)  http://www.icu.it

Europe (Italy)

  • PfP-grant (2005/6): Action title: Aqaba-Eliat: One more step toward peace. Action location: Jordan, Israel. Action duration (Months): 36 months. Grant Amount EUR: 440,580.80. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 80%.

ICU, “Institute for Cooperation Onlus University” – is an Italian non-governmental organization that deals with development cooperation and international solidarity in 29 countries with 47 projects, 27 of them in Africa.  (www.un.org.lb/files/southleb/reports/Environment_Thematic%20Paper_08.doc)   

“We do not expect to solve the ‘Palestinian issue,’ but we can certainly help willing people to live better.” (translated from the Italian)

Georg Eckert Institut Fur Internationale Schulbuchforschung (http://www.gei.de/index.php?L=1&id=794)

Europe (Germany)
  • PfP-grant (2005/6): Action title: “‘Learning Each Others’ Historical Narrative’: A Bi-national History Textbook for use in Israeli and Palestinian Schools.” Action location: West Bank, Israel, Germany. Action duration (Months): 24 months. Grant Amount EUR: 298,370. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 74,6%.

The Texts of “the Others” – An Israeli-Palestinian Textbook Project on the History of the Middle East Conflict. 

EcoPeace/ Friends of the Earth Middle East (http://www.foeme.org/)

Palestinian and Israel
  • PfP-grant (2004/5): Action title: Advancing Community Based Reconciliation by Focusing on Cross-Border Palestinian, Israeli and Jordanian Neighbouring Communities. Action location: Israel, West Bank, Gaza, Jordan. Action duration (Months): 24 months. Grant amount EUR: 500,000. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 51.26%.

Mission Statement: “Our primary objective is the promotion of cooperative efforts to protect our shared environmental heritage. In so doing, we seek to advance both sustainable regional development and the creation of necessary conditions for lasting peace in our region.” Regrettably, has issued statements such as, “[t]he Israeli authorities have a single minded focus on security that goes beyond any test of reason.” Also advocates to “prevent the Separation Barrier from being built beyond the Green Line”; this position is advanced because “water can create the initial trust that provides the basis for cooperative work beyond water issues such as land use, economic and tourist development,” and the barrier would prevent this “cooperative work.”

Arava Institute for Environmental Studies (http://www.arava.org/new/)

Israel
  • PfP-grant (2005/6): Action title: Peace and environmental partnership project. Action Location: Israel, West Bank, and Jordan. Action duration (Months): 12 months. Grant amount EUR: 160,117. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 56.18%.

Arava brings together Israelis, Jordanians and Palestinians, preparing them “to cooperatively solve the region’s environmental challenges.” No known political statements or activities beyond this cooperation.

Peres Center for Peace (http://www.peres-center.org/index.html)

Israel
  • PfP-grant (2004/5): Action title: Aix Group – “Exploring the Economic Dimensions of a ‘Two State’ Final Status Agreement between Israel and Palestine”. Action location: Israel. Action duration (Months): 24 months. Grant Amount EUR: 483,940. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 73.574%.

The Aix Group is a project of the Peres Center, researching economic aspects of Palestinian-Israeli peace based on a two-state solution.  Stated assumption of their work: “that an agreement acceptable to the two peoples will be reached.” Critical of “rejectionism” and “pre-emption” (settlement building) that make peace unobtainable, according to the group.

Although the Peres center is part of the Israeli Left, its activities do not appear to intensely undermine the government’s positions

4. PfP funded NGOs and projects — insufficient information available

Al-Lod Charitable Society (http://www.allodpal.org/ – “under construction”)

Palestinian
  • PfP-grant (2004/5): Action title: Understanding Each Other in Palestine: A Vision of Peace. Action Location: West Bank. Action duration (Months): 18 months. Grant amount EUR: 103,500. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 79.78%.

Note: The organization’s account at the Arab bank, Nablus Branch (Ac. Nu. 445444), was confiscated in February 2004 due to an alleged connection with Hamas.

Institute for International Assistance and Solidarity (http://www.ifias.eu)

Europe
  • Pfp-grant (2005/6): Action title: P.R.I.D.E. Palestinian Refugee’s Identity Development Enterprise. Action location: West Bank. Action duration (Months): 15 months. Grant Amount EUR: 269,791. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 79.4 %.

Project description: “The overall objective of the project is to create sustainable structures for grassroots organisations in the Azzeh Refugee Camp in Bethlehem. As there is no municipality responsible for the camp, there are attempts for self-rule in form of the Popular Committee. The project will train future leaders of community activities on professional management and standards. This includes responsibilities for human resources, training capabilities, organisation of groups, financial management and fundraising, international cooperation and media relations as well as cooperation with local government.” (Insufficient information available on the political activities of these “grassroots organizations.”)

Associazione “Orlando” (http://www.women.it/orlando/)

Europe
  • PfP-grant (2004/5): Action title: Building constituencies for women’s alternative ways for peace. Action Location: West Bank. Action duration (Months): 36 months. Grant amount EUR: 300,000. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 80%.

Main office: Via San Felice 24 — Bologna
Patrizia Rampion, rampion@women.it" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rampion@women.it, 051-2195230

Forum Ziviler Friendensdienst EV

Europe
  • PfP-grant (2005/6): Action title: Challenging the narratives of land and identity. Action Location: West Bank, Israel, Jordan. Action duration (Months): 26 months. Grant amount EUR: 213,109.60. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 80%

Psycho Social Counseling Center for Women

Palestinian
  • PfP-grant (2005/6): Action title: Program for enabling and enhancing refugee youth in West Bank refugee camps. Action Location: West Bank. Action duration (Months): 12 months. Grant amount EUR: 108,873.26. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 80%.

Al Quds University

Palestinian
  • PfP-grant (2005/6): Action title: Promoting dialogue and cultural understanding of our shared heritage – PUSH. Action Location: West Bank, Israel, and Jordan. Action duration (Months): 24 months. Grant amount EUR: 374,072.80. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 80%.  Details of the actual program, participants and impacts, if any, are unavailable.

Palestinian Youth Association for Leadership and Rights Activation – PYALARA

Palestinian
  • PfP-grant (2005/6): Action title: Youth for change: turning talk into action. Action location: West Bank, Gaza. Action duration (Months): 24 months. Grant Amount EUR: 259,776. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 80%.

MASAR

  • PfP-grant (2004/5): Action title: Journalist for Peace. Action location: Jordan, Turkey, Czech Republic. Action duration (Months): 36 months. Grant amount EUR: 489,552. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 80%.

Association Latitude de Paix, Homme de Parole http://www.hommesdeparole.org/

Europe (Belgium)
  • PfP-grant (2004/5): Action title: First World Congress: Imams and rabbis for peace. Action location: Belgium. Action duration (Months): 6 months. Grant amount EUR: 70,000. Percentage of total eligible action costs (%): 7.7%.

The 3rd World Congress will take place in December. The project’s website also hosts a blog for peace messages.