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'''NGO Monitor''' is a project with the stated aim of monitoring [[non-governmental organization]]s operating in [[Israel]], the [[West Bank]], and [[Gaza]]. It is a program of the [[Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs]], headed by Ambassador [[Dore Gold]] (advisor to [[Prime minister of Israel|Israeli Prime Minister]] [[Ariel Sharon]]); it was formerly a joint project with [[B'nai Brith]] International.[http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=16540]. |
'''NGO Monitor''' is a project with the stated aim of monitoring [[non-governmental organization]]s operating in [[Israel]], the [[West Bank]], and [[Gaza]]. It is a program of the [[Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs]], headed by Ambassador [[Dore Gold]] (advisor to [[Prime minister of Israel|Israeli Prime Minister]] [[Ariel Sharon]]); it was formerly a joint project with [[B'nai Brith]] International.[http://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=16540]. NGO monitor is a [[hasbara]] organization, whose reports appear regularly on the [[Israeli Hasbara Committee]]s website [http://www.infoisrael.net/cgi-local/xmlpath.pl?archives=1&id=5/e]. |
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NGO Monitor describes its goal as "end[ing] 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." |
NGO Monitor describes its goal as "end[ing] 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." |
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Describing it as a "friend of Israel", the [[Jewish Watch Dog]] site calls it "a branch of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs that was founded to promote accountability, and advance a vigorous discussion on the reports and activities of humanitarian NGOs in the framework of the Arab-Israeli conflict."[http://jwd-jewishwatchdog.home.comcast.net/links/friends-of-israel.html] David Bedein of [[David Horowitz]]' magazine [[FrontPageMag.com]] describes it as a "watchdog organization".[http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=12644] |
Describing it as a "friend of Israel", the [[Jewish Watch Dog]] site calls it "a branch of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs that was founded to promote accountability, and advance a vigorous discussion on the reports and activities of humanitarian NGOs in the framework of the Arab-Israeli conflict."[http://jwd-jewishwatchdog.home.comcast.net/links/friends-of-israel.html] David Bedein of [[David Horowitz]]' magazine [[FrontPageMag.com]] describes it as a "watchdog organization".[http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=12644] |
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NGO Monitor's reports appear regularly on the "Around the World" section of the "Hotbeds of Prejudice" subpage of the [[Israeli Hasbara Committee]]s website [http://www.infoisrael.net/cgi-local/xmlpath.pl?archives=1&id=5/e]. |
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==Criticism of NGO Monitor== |
==Criticism of NGO Monitor== |
Revision as of 00:39, 14 December 2004
NGO Monitor is a project with the stated aim of monitoring non-governmental organizations operating in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. It is a program of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, headed by Ambassador Dore Gold (advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon); it was formerly a joint project with B'nai Brith International.[1]. NGO monitor is a hasbara organization, whose reports appear regularly on the Israeli Hasbara Committees website [2].
NGO Monitor describes its goal as "end[ing] 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."
NGO Monitor has criticized several international human rights organisations, including Christian Aid for its alleged "extensive involvement in anti-Israel propaganda campaigns" [3] and Human Rights Watch whose reports it found to be "systematically and exceedingly biased" [4].
It has also accused the Ford Foundation of funding NGOs, such as the Palestinian human rights organization Al Mezan Center, allegedly involved in "blatantly political anti-Israel activities". [5] Subsequent to this criticism, the Ford Foundation modified its policies regarding funding of NGOs.[6]
Praise of NGO Monitor
Describing it as a "friend of Israel", the Jewish Watch Dog site calls it "a branch of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs that was founded to promote accountability, and advance a vigorous discussion on the reports and activities of humanitarian NGOs in the framework of the Arab-Israeli conflict."[7] David Bedein of David Horowitz' magazine FrontPageMag.com describes it as a "watchdog organization".[8]
Criticism of NGO Monitor
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."[9] At the US-based Al Jazeerah Information Center, an editorial by Mohammed Salah Al-Attar (translated from Arabic by Nida Younis) states: "The stands of the Israeli NGO’s monitor springs from the overwhelming well-known stands of the Israeli official and political parties on different topics: the relation with the Palestinian people and its national aspirations and existence in its home land; and the peace issues in the country and worldwide. On these bases, the monitor establishes controversies and contradictory concepts which are characterized by suggesting a mixture of doubts on the UN NGO’s and the human organizations. Furthermore, it exploits the accusation of anti-Semitism, opposition to Israel and the Jewish people and deceptive systematic illusions to falsify stands. In addition, it does not mirror facts on the ground. Therefore, the Palestinian side seems to hold the responsibility for the continuous violations and war crimes which are actually committed by the Israeli occupation." [10] (Cannot format link)
Staff
Apart from interns, its staff includes[11]:
- Dr. Dore Gold, Publisher (a former Israeli diplomat, currently President of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs and advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon)
- Professor Gerald 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)[12]
- Simon Plosker, Managing Editor (formerly public affairs officer for the Board of Deputies of British Jews and British Aliyah Movement co-ordinator)[13]
- Aharon Etengoff, Webmaster and Senior Researcher (formerly of the Photography & Film and Public Relations Departments of the IDF Spokesperson’s Office)[14]
- Simon Lassman, Consultant (Project Manager and Client Executive, Info-Prod Research (Middle East) Ltd.; Executive Management Team, Access Middle East.org)
Organizations reviewed by NGO Monitor
- Adalah
- Advocacy Project
- Al-Haq
- Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights
- Alternatives
- American Near East Rescue Aid
- Amnesty International
- Arab Association of Human Rights
- Ard el Atfal and Ard el Insan
- Association for the Defence of the Rights of the Internally Displaced (ADRID)
- B'Tselem
- CARE
- Caritas
- Center for Policy Analysis on Palestine
- Christian Aid (UK)
- Defence for Children International / Palestine Section
- Direct Relief International
- Doctors Without Borders
- Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network
- Ford Foundation
- Galilee Society
- Grassroots International
- Habitat International Coalition
- HaMoked – Center for the Defense of the Individual
- HDIP
- Hebron Restoration Committee
- Human Rights Association
- Human Rights Watch
- IBDAA
- International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development - Rights and Democracy (ICHRDD)
- I'lam
- International Commission of Jurists
- International Federation of Human Rights
- International Solidarity Movement
- Israel Committee against House Demolitions
- Ittijah
- Jerusalem Media and Communication Center
- Law
- Machsom Watch
- Medecins du Monde
- Medical Aid for Palestinians (UK)
- MENGOS
- Miftah
- New Israel Fund
- Organization of Solidarity of the Peoples of Africa, Asia and Latin America (OSPAAAL)
- Oxfam Belgium
- Palestine Children's Relief Fund
- Palestine Children's Welfare Fund
- Palestinian Center for Human Rights
- Physicians for Human Rights-Israel
- Palestinian NGO Network
- PENGON
- PYALARA
- Rabbis for Human Rights
- Save the Children Fund
- Terre des Hommes
- War on Want (UK)
- World Organization Against Torture (OMCT)
- World Vision International
- Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees
- United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
- UN Commission on Human Rights (Geneva)
- UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA)
- USAID
- YMCA / YWCA
- Zeina