Norway, Rape and Muslims – A Study
New Report: Norwegian Government Funds Fuel Mid East Conflict
(Jerusalem) – Jerusalem-based research organization NGO Monitor todayÂ
released a report on the tens of millions of Norwegian Kroner (NOK) givenÂ
annually by the Norwegian government to extreme NGOs that demonize IsraelÂ
and fuel hostility. The report details how public funds, which are directedÂ
to NGOs that operate in the Palestinian Authority and Gaza, fail to promoteÂ
coexistence or Palestinian human rights and democracy.
Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs allocated an estimated NOK 187millionÂ
in 2006 to NGOs active in the Palestinian Authority and Gaza. Many of theseÂ
funds are utilized by influential Norwegian humanitarian and developmentÂ
NGOs such as Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA). Yet, among its activities, NPAÂ
has aligned itself with campaigns that accuse Israel of ‘ethnic cleansing’,Â
‘apartheid’ and even regard Israel’s very creation as a ‘naqba’ (catastropheÂ
in Arabic). This highly damaging rhetoric alienates Israelis andÂ
contributes to a deep sense of animosity between Palestinians and Israelis.
Another well-known aid agency, the Norwegian Aid Committee (NORWAC) alsoÂ
receives significant funds from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Â
One of its leading representatives, Dr Mads Gilbert has repeatedly andÂ
falsely accused Israel of deliberately targeting civilians. Gilbert is aÂ
radical left wing political activist and has expressed sympathy with theÂ
terrorist attacks on USA on September 11, 2001.
Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) received almost NOK 300 million in 2007 fromÂ
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its development wing NORAD. Far from beingÂ
apolitical, impartial or fostering coexistence, NCA affords legitimacy toÂ
Hamas (a genocidal terror organization) by criticizing Norway’s policy ofÂ
‘withdrawing economic support’ to the ‘Hamas government’. This stanceÂ
directly contradicts the position of the Norwegian government from which NCAÂ
receives funds.
Equally problematic is the money distributed by the Norwegian RepresentativeÂ
Office to local NGOs in the Palestinian Authority and Gaza. Among theirÂ
grant recipients are Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) and Al-Haq.Â
Both organizations have spearheaded a frivolous ‘Lawfare’ campaign toÂ
prosecute Israeli military and political leaders in courts across the worldÂ
on spurious ‘war crimes’ charges. PCHR and Al-Haq have filed complaintsÂ
against Shaul Mofaz, Avi Dichter, Doron Almog and others. Yet the fact thatÂ
not one of these cases has been upheld in the courts indicates thatÂ
Norwegian public funds are being wasted by NGOs to advance their politicalÂ
agenda. Meanwhile, Al-Haq is headed by Shawan Jabarin who has been deniedÂ
exit visas by Israel and Jordan on account of his alleged ties to theÂ
terrorist group Popular Front for Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).
NGO Monitor’s Executive Director, Prof Gerald Steinberg said, “The NorwegianÂ
government must understand that the promotion of tolerance and coexistenceÂ
in the Middle East is totally incompatible with the granting of funds toÂ
radical NGOs. These organizations are engaged in a campaign to demonize andÂ
isolate Israel while they ignore the desperate need to promote human rightsÂ
and democracy in Palestinian society. Through providing this money, theÂ
Norwegian government is complicit in the continued bitterness in theÂ
region.”
——– ENDS ————
Editors Notes:
Please click here or the link below to view the full NGO Monitor report onÂ
Norwegian government funding
www.ngo-monitor.org/article/norwegian_ngo_funding_boycotts_and_apartheid_rhetoric_instead_of_peace_and_coexistence
NGO Monitor was founded to promote transparency, critical analysis andÂ
debate on the political role of human rights organizations. For moreÂ
information, see our website at
www.ngo-monitor.org
Other recent publications and reports by NGO Monitor include:-
Amnesty’s Gaza Report: Abolishing Israel’s Right to Self-Defense – FebruaryÂ
25, 2009
‘Hijacked by Hatred’: British NGOs Use Christmas for Anti-Israel Attacks -Â
December 23, 2008
NGO ‘Lawfare’: Exploitation of Courts in the Arab-Israeli Conflict – OctoberÂ
8, 2008
NGO Monitor’s Executive Director is, Prof. Gerald Steinberg.
Members of NGO Monitor’s International Advisory Board include Elie Wiesel,Â
Prof Alan Dershowitz, Sir Martin Gilbert and R. James Woolsey
For further information, comment or interviews contact Dan Kosky
+972 (0) 546-305-504
NGO Monitor – 1, Ben Maimon Blvd. – Jerusalem 92262 – Israel – T:Â
+972-2-566-1020
F: +972-77-511-7030
E: dan.kosky@ngo-monitor.org

Write directly to the Norwegen government complaining about Mads Glibers (sorry, I know his name is Gilbert but this alternative seemed more appropriate) and NORWAC.