NGO accuses Sweden of funding extreme anti-israel groups

[Ebusitanus]

NGO accuses Sweden of funding extreme anti-Israel groups

Jul. 1, 2009

The Swedish government is funding radical NGOs which, under the guise of human rights and humanitarian aid, are exacerbating the Middle East conflict, a Jerusalem-based research organization said, in a report released Wednesday.

The report by NGO Monitor came on the day that Sweden assumes the rotating presidency of the European Union.

The report by the watchdog group states that the activities of these Swedish-funded organizations often "increase hostility, and are inconsistent with the goals of the EU in the Middle East, raising concerns over Sweden's ability to lead the EU in contributing to the peace process."

Swedish government funding for political NGOs is disbursed through a number of channels, via its development wing, the Swedish International Cooperation Agency.

Over $13 million was distributed in 2008 to Diakonia, Sweden's largest humanitarian NGO, according to the report.

The report states that Diakonia distributes this money to some of the most radical NGOs in the region, including an organization which has compared Israeli military and political figures to Nazis, and avers that President Shimon Peres is an "enemy" of "human rights and of peace" and that working with Peres Center for Peace is "morally disgusting."

Another group that received funding from Diakonia is a leader in the anti-Israel church divestment campaign, whose director, the report says, regularly employs anti-Semitic theological themes, referring to the "Israeli government crucifixion system" which places "Jesus…on the cross again, with thousands of crucified Palestinians around him."

"Swedish government funds are being utilized by NGOs to fuel political attacks against Israel under the façade of human rights," said Gerald Steinberg, executive director of NGO Monitor.

He added that the policies of these NGOs increase mistrust, exacerbate the conflict and erode the moral foundation of international humanitarian law.

"If Sweden wishes to be viewed as a fair and effective president of the European Union, this very damaging NGO funding must be addressed," he said.

A Swedish Embassy spokeswoman in Tel Aviv said Wednesday that Sweden was aware of the report but declined comment. A spokeswoman for Diakonia did not respond to an e-mail request for comment.

Sweden will serve as the rotating presidency of the 27-member European Union for six months.

This article can also be read at http://www.jpost.com /servlet/Satellite?cid=1246443696715&pagename=JPArticle%2FS howFull

[IrishHitman]

Israel REALLY wants to aggravate the European Union, don't they?

The day I believe a "Jerusalem-based research organization" is the day the world ends...

[Каие]

In essence this Israeli research group is complaining that these organisations are not toeing their party line?

[Furious Mental]

That means they deny the Holocaust, obvously.

[shadyrome]

That means they deny the Holocaust, obvously.

How come they keep using holocaust card?

[Erik]

The report by the watchdog group states that the activities of these Swedish-funded organizations often "increase hostility, and are inconsistent with the goals of the EU in the Middle East, raising concerns over Sweden's ability to lead the EU in contributing to the peace process."

So not happy with influencing US politics, Israel now wants to meddle in EU politics as well?
that.

[magpie]

Its kind of a trend, Israel is no longer the darling of the international stage, and the second world war card, has been overplayed to often to cover their own abuses.
But! Sweden the home of liberal socialism Of course they are allowing their country to be over-run by the hordes which may make the Israeli group a little edgy

[Yosemite]

that is just absurd

[molonthegreat]

I'm not surprised our government gives a lot of money to dubious organizations like in the eighties we gave millions of dollars to that loon Robert Mugabe. We shouldn't give any aid at all and let them manage on their own.

[Kjertesvein]

^We(the richer states) will always interfere. It's impossible to "leave them alone" in a global economical trade system.

"If Sweden wishes to be viewed as a fair and effective president of the European Union, this very damaging NGO funding must be addressed," he said.

"fair and effective" is a point of view.

And for the record, my government is the first western gov. to recognice and support the terrorist organ, the Palestine election. Whooooo, scary. This(article) is nothing in compared. "..Extreme.." = harsh words??????

hahah I laugh hard out of my ass at this silly article.

[♔Jean-Luc Picard♔]

I like Israel as a country, but their government is full of imbeciles. This proves it.

[mongrel]

Gerald Steinberg is a consultant to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Security Council. Independent body my arse, this post insults the intelligence of the good people of TWC.

[Ebusitanus]

This post/thread or what Steinberg has to say within it?

[mongrel]

I wil give you the benefit of the doubt on the presumption that you may not know who this man is, but as regards Steinberg, how on Earth can someone in his position form an independent view on Israeli foreign and security policy? it is ridiculous.

[Ebusitanus]

Thanks for the benefit since I really had no idea who this man is/was. I found the article and thought it merited posting here. Still, that would speak against the what the NGO claims, not the subject itself and the healthy debate it has generated.

[Heinz Guderian]

Thanks for the benefit since I really had no idea who this man is/was. I found the article and thought it merited posting here. Still, that would speak against the what the NGO claims, not the subject itself and the healthy debate it has generated.

Mongrel saw your bluff. You like posting articles that agree with your political and social viewpoint. So do we all. But you ****ed up this one. You didnt research it enough. Now you made Israel look like an ass when you wanted the opposite. The only people that are trying to support it are the usual suspects.

You made Israel weaker today.

[Ebusitanus]

Mongrel saw your bluff. You like posting articles that agree with your political and social viewpoint. So do we all. But you ****ed up this one. You didnt research it enough. Now you made Israel look like an ass when you wanted the opposite. The only people that are trying to support it are the usual suspects.

You made Israel weaker today.

I find you are reading to much into it. The article seemed interesting enough. Why should I know or do pre-posting research on names which do not tell me anything? My reason for posting it was because I begrudge this arrogance to wave the magic "Go Free" card in the face of Sweden and the EU when without EU support and comerce Israel would be an even worse hellhole surrounded by obviously hostile people.

[Valentin the II]

I find you are reading to much into it. The article seemed interesting enough. Why should I know or do pre-posting research on names which do not tell me anything? My reason for posting it was because I begrudge this arrogance to wave the magic "Go Free" card in the face of Sweden and the EU when without EU support and comerce Israel would be an even worse hellhole surrounded by obviously hostile people.

How is Israel a hellhole (it isn't ) and why do you think it depends on the EU so much?
Last time I checked Israel received 0 support from the EU.

But they ALSO say Sweden is unfit for EU presidency. - that's what I'm complaining about.

Who is fit or unfit for EU presidency is up to the EU, and the EU alone.

Well, if the Swedish government does some thing unwise, than it probably speaks for its (lack of) qualification to lead one of the most powerful unions on the planet. Don't you think?

[mongrel]

I find you are reading to much into it. The article seemed interesting enough. Why should I know or do pre-posting research on names which do not tell me anything? My reason for posting it was because I begrudge this arrogance to wave the magic "Go Free" card in the face of Sweden and the EU when without EU support and comerce Israel would be an even worse hellhole surrounded by obviously hostile people.

Because research would have undermined the whole premise of the thread perhaps?

All the article shows that an organisation pretending to be at arms length of the Israel government is, in fact not.

What about NGO Monitor's publisher, Dore Gold, former permanent representative of Israel to the United Nations former foreign policy advisor to Benjamin Netanyahu and Ariel Sharon? Is he likely to have a balanced view of Israeli foreign policy? Or Aharan Etengoff formerly of the the Photography & Film and Public Relations Departments of the ArmySpokesperson's Office. These names say it all.

[Henry of Grosmont]

I know Dore Gold personally. Not too close and not too good to say that I like him

Can we drop Israel involvement now? Just for now...