Difference between revisions of "NGO Monitor"
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| − | '''NGO Monitor''' ('''Non-governmental organization monitor''') is a [[zionist]] [[lobby]] group. It is a project with the stated aim of monitoring non-governmental organisations operating in [[Israel]], the [[West Bank]] and [[Gaza]]. | + | '''NGO Monitor''' ('''Non-governmental organization monitor''') is a [[zionist]] [[lobby]] group. It is a project with the stated aim of monitoring non-governmental organisations operating in [[Israel]], the [[West Bank]] and [[Gaza]]. |
| − | + | ==Official narrative== | |
| + | NGO Monitor describes its goal as "to end to [sic] the practice used by certain self-declared 'humanitarian NGOs' of exploiting the label 'universal [[human rights]] values' to promote politically and ideologically motivated anti-Israel agendas." <ref>'Our Mission Statement', [http://www.ngo-monitor.org/articles.php?type=about NGO Monitor website], accessed 2 April, 2009.</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Concerns=== | ||
| + | [[Yacoub Kahlen]] and [[Robert E. Foxsohn]] write: | ||
:NGO Monitor, founded by the [[Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs]], has for some time now been deliberately spreading false and misleading information about organisations in an attempt to discredit them. Their targets include some of the most established and respected human rights organisations. While their efforts to stifle a critical dialogue have proved unsuccessful, their efforts are relentless and it is important that they be exposed as part of an extremist, right wing institution. They should not be taken seriously by anyone interested in peace and human rights. | :NGO Monitor, founded by the [[Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs]], has for some time now been deliberately spreading false and misleading information about organisations in an attempt to discredit them. Their targets include some of the most established and respected human rights organisations. While their efforts to stifle a critical dialogue have proved unsuccessful, their efforts are relentless and it is important that they be exposed as part of an extremist, right wing institution. They should not be taken seriously by anyone interested in peace and human rights. | ||
Revision as of 15:21, 12 November 2017
 NGO Monitor     | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Founder | Gerald M. Steinberg |
| Type | lobby |
| Slogan | Making NGOs Accountable |
| Interests | zionism, NGOs |
| A zionist lobby group. | |
NGO Monitor (Non-governmental organization monitor) is a zionist lobby group. It is a project with the stated aim of monitoring non-governmental organisations operating in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.
Contents
Official narrative
NGO Monitor describes its goal as "to end to [sic] the practice used by certain self-declared 'humanitarian NGOs' of exploiting the label 'universal human rights values' to promote politically and ideologically motivated anti-Israel agendas." [1]
Concerns
Yacoub Kahlen and Robert E. Foxsohn write:
- NGO Monitor, founded by the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, has for some time now been deliberately spreading false and misleading information about organisations in an attempt to discredit them. Their targets include some of the most established and respected human rights organisations. While their efforts to stifle a critical dialogue have proved unsuccessful, their efforts are relentless and it is important that they be exposed as part of an extremist, right wing institution. They should not be taken seriously by anyone interested in peace and human rights.
- NGO Monitor, a web-based project of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, was founded jointly with B'nai B'rith, a long-time, vocal supporter of Israel in the US.
- To an outsider, NGO Monitor appears to be a serious and neutral initiative. NGO Monitor states that it is "promoting critical debate and accountability of human rights NGOs in the Arab-Israeli conflict" [sic]. [2] However, on closer examination, it is very obvious that the "debate" NGO Monitor is referring to is one that offers a blanket rejection of any criticism of Israel and its violations of human rights. It begs the question of whether NGO Monitor has any idea of what a "debate" actually is.
- In fact, NGO Monitor shows that the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, in line with most other vocal supporters of Israel, is keen on vilifying any and all critics of Israel and conveniently ignoring the human rights violations and war crimes of Israel and its security agencies. [3]
Structure and staff
It is a programme of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, and was formerly a joint project with B'nai Brith International.[4]
Apart from interns, its staff includes: [5]
- Dore Gold, Publisher (a former Israeli ambassador, currently President of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs and advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon)
- Gerald M. Steinberg, Editor (Professor of Political Studies at Bar Ilan University, where he directs the Interdisciplinary Program on Conflict Management and Negotiation; also a Senior Research Associate at the BESA Center for Strategic Studies, a consultant to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and National Security Council, and a columnist)[6]
- Simon Plosker, Managing Editor (formerly public affairs officer for the Board of Deputies of British Jews and British Aliyah Movement co-ordinator)[7]
- Aharon Etengoff, Webmaster and Senior Researcher (formerly of the Photography & Film and Public Relations Departments of the IDF Spokesperson’s Office) [8]
Activities
NGO Monitor has campaigned against several international human rights organisations, including Christian Aid for its alleged "extensive involvement in anti-Israel propaganda campaigns" [9] and Human Rights Watch whose reports it claims to be "systematically and exceedingly biased", [10] Amnesty International, [11] Oxfam [12] and Medecins Sans Frontieres [13]
It has also criticised the Ford Foundation for funding NGOs, such as the Palestinian human rights organisation Al Mezan Center, allegedly involved in "blatantly political anti-Israel activities". [14] Subsequent to this criticism, the Ford Foundation modified its policies regarding funding of NGOs. [15]
NGO Monitor criticised the New Israel Fund for funding organisations that the NGO Monitor claims are engaged in a "campaign to delegitimize Israel." These claims where denied by the director of the New Israel Fund who described NGO Monitor's criticism as "un-democratic and un-Jewish" and "inherently and fundamentally flawed." [16]
Praise and Criticism of Activities
Praise
Describing it as a "friend of Israel", the Jewish Watch Dog site states that NGO Monitor was created "to promote accountability, and advance a vigorous discussion on the reports and activities of humanitarian NGOs in the framework of the Arab-Israeli conflict." [17] David Bedein of David Horowitz' magazine FrontPageMag.com describes it as a "watchdog organization". [18]
NGO Monitor's reports appear regularly on the "Around the World" section of the "Hotbeds of Prejudice" subpage of the Israeli Hasbara Committee website. [19]
Criticism
Critics dismiss NGO Monitor as politically motivated and biased. At Political Research Associates, Jean Hardisty and Elizabeth Furdon describe it as a "conservative NGO watchdog group, NGO Monitor, which focuses on perceived threats to Israeli interests", adding that "The ideological slant of NGO Monitor's work is unabashedly pro-Israeli. It does not claim to be a politically neutral examination of NGO activities and practices." [20] Ittijah, the Union of Arab Community Based Organisations in Israel, labels NGO Monitor as "an organ of the American pro-Israel lobby." [21]
Principals
| Gerald Steinberg – Executive Director | Dov Yarden – Chief Executive Officer | Sarah Mandel – Associate Editor |
| Naftali Balanson – Managing Editor | Anne Herzberg – Director of Research and Legal Advisor | Dan Kosky – Communications Director |
| Yael Beck – Senior Researcher | Merav Fima – Researcher | Hillel Katchen – Researcher |
| Oliver Moore – Research Fellow | Paul Gross – Communications and Public Relations | |
| Source[22] | ||
|---|---|---|
Other NGOs Reviewed
Resources
- 'Biography: Ambassador Dore Gold', JCPA website, accessed 2 April, 2009.
- Mohammed Salah Al-Attar, 'The Israeli NGO's Monitor: Aims, purposes and mixture of claims, deformation of facts and illusions', web.archive.org/Al-Jazeerah, 9 January, 2004.
References
- ↑ 'Our Mission Statement', NGO Monitor website, accessed 2 April, 2009.
- ↑ NGO Monitor website, accessed 2 April, 2009.
- ↑ Yacoub Kahlen and Robert E. Foxsohn, 'NGO Monitor should not be taken seriously', The Electronic Intifada, 18 October 2005
- ↑ 'Follow up on ISM and the death of Rachel Corrie', IMRA website/Excerpt from NGO Monitor, 10 April , 2003, 14 April, 2003.
- ↑ 'Who are We?', web.archive.org/NGO Monitor website, accessed 2 April, 2009.
- ↑ 'Professor Gerald Steinberg', Bar Ilan University website
- ↑ 'BoD Man Bows Out', web.archive.org/Totally Jewish
- ↑ 'Contributing Experts: Aharon Etengoff', web.archive.org/ACPR website, accessed 2 April, 2009.
- ↑ 'Summary Report on Christian Aid: June 2004', NGO Monitor website, 15 June, 2004.
- ↑ 'Summary Report on Human Rights Watch', web.archive.org/NGO Monitor website, 14 April, 2004.
- ↑ Gerald Steinberg, 'Human Rights Groups Are Working Against Peace', NGO Monitor website/Canadian Jewish News, 13 January, 2005.
- ↑ Gerald Steinberg, 'Human Rights Groups Are Working Against Peace', NGO Monitor website/Canadian Jewish News, 13 January, 2005.
- ↑ Political Humanitarianism' and Medical NGOs', NGO Monitor website, 5 December, 2003.
- ↑ 'Ford Foundation Update - Ford Money Still Being Used for Anti-Israel Activities', NGO Monitor website, 15 May, 2004.
- ↑ Andrew L. Jaffee, '"Stunning Reversal:" Ford Foundation Agrees to Stop Funding Anti-Israeli and Anti-Semitic Groups', WMD website, 21 November, 2003.
- ↑ 'Exchange of letters on NIF transparency and accountability', NGO Monitor website, 20 August, 2003.
- ↑ 'Friends of Israel', web.archive.org/JWD website, accessed 2 April, 2009.
- ↑ David Bedein, 'Slurring Israel', FrontPage, 22 March, 2004.
- ↑ 'Around the World', Israel Hasbara Committee website
- ↑ Jean Hardisty and Elizabeth Furdon, 'Policing Civil Society: NGO Watch', From The Public Eye, Spring 2004.
- ↑ 'About Ittijah', web.archive.org/Ittijah website, accessed 2 April, 2009.
- ↑ 'NGO Monitor Staff', NGO Monitor website, accessed: 27 October, 2008.
