27 March 2019 | ANALYSIS
The European Union is giving more than 5 million euros a year to non-government organisations (NGOs) that openly call for a boycott of Israel. This is according to the Ministry of Strategic Affairs in Jerusalem.
The EU has always denied that it backs a boycott of Israel but it does insist on the right to “free speech.” However the Jerusalem Ministry says it can prove that European tax payer’s money is paid directly to organisations that promote Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, (BDS).
The Strategic Affairs Ministry has now urged Brussels to make any financial aid to NGOs contingent on an explicit commitment to oppose boycotts of the Jewish State.
The 34-page report entitled “The Money Trail: European Union Financing of Organisations Promoting Boycotts against the State of Israel,” accuses the EU of given more than €5 million to at least 10 NGOs that promote boycotts against Israel. It showed that two prominent pro-Palestinian NGOs, Al-Haq and Al-Mezan, were last year awarded a grant of over €750,000.
Strategic Affairs Minister, Gilad Erdan said, “Instead of hiding behind empty statements, the European Union needs to implement its own declared policy and immediately cease funding organizations that promote boycotts against the State of Israel.”
Erdan insisted the EU is funding groups that support BDS, even if the actual money is designated for other purposes. The Minister argues that by giving these organizations money, it enhances their legitimacy which, in turn, helps them secure more grants for anti-Israel activity.
In response to the ministry’s accusations, a spokesperson for the EU’s delegation to Israel noted that the union’s selection of NGO-led projects “to be generally transparent” and in accordance with international transparency standards.
The EU has “very strict rules to screen and vet the beneficiaries of EU funds,” the spokesperson went on, vowing to seriously investigate any allegation of misuse if it is presented with substantive evidence.
Brussels’ opposition to the BDS movement has not changed, the spokesperson added. “While it upholds its policy of clearly distinguishing between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied by it since 1967, the EU rejects any attempts to isolate Israel and does not support calls for a boycott,” she said.
However, on its Twitter feed, the EU mission based in Ramat Gan, wrote that individuals or groups that are “related to the BDS movement” are not necessarily involved in incitement to commit illegal acts “and are not automatically ineligible for EU funding.”
The EU “stands firm in protecting freedom of expression” even if some ideas may offend or disturb some people,” the mission tweeted, adding: “Any action that has the effect of closing the space for civil society organisations should be avoided.”
This is not the first time the ministry have clashed with the EU. In May 2018, during the first instalment of the “Money Trail” report, the ministry alleged the EU funded non-profit groups that not only campaign for boycotts of Israel, but in some cases even have ties to terror groups.
At the time, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini accused Erdan’s ministry of spreading disinformation saying “We are confident EU funding has not been used to support boycott of Israel or BDS activities and certainly not to finance terrorism.”
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James J. Marlow is a journalist and international news contributor
E-mail: James@TheJewishWeekly.com
Follow him on Twitter: @James_J_Marlow
