The Transparency Law reveals massive funding to political advocacy NGOs

Jerusalem – Today, Jerusalem-based research institute NGO Monitor released a report analyzing submissions made by NGOs to the Israeli registrar of non-profits in Israel in 2012, as legislated under the NGO Transparency law. The law mandates that NGOs file quarterly reports about support received from foreign government bodies. NGOs receive funding from two primary channels, either via direct funding from foreign governments, or indirectly via third parties such as foundations, and humanitarian, development, and religious NGOs.

The reports for 2012 show that a total amount of 34,355,579 NIS annually is being provided to 30 NGOs from a number of foreign governments. NGO Monitor highlights in our analysis the use of foreign government money to fund political advocacy NGOs based in Israel. As of January 27, 2013, 13 political advocacy NGOs reported grants from foreign governments totaling 21,671,115 NIS, these groups include B’Tselem, Physicians for Human Rights Israel, Gisha, and Yesh Din. A number of other political advocacy NGOs that regularly receive funding from foreign governments did not submit quarterly reports in 2012 for reasons unknown.

“The law, implemented by the Israeli Ministry of Justice, is an international model for transparency; it has been proven to be effective and serves as a contribution to the democratic processes,” said Professor Gerald Steinberg, President of NGO Monitor. “Once received, the funding information is made public, allowing all Israelis to access data on the influence of foreign governments on political discourse. Most alarming is the amount of foreign funding going to NGOs involved in polarizing activity in the context of the Arab-Israeli conflict, often contrary to the stated positions of the government funders. Additionally some of the donors involved through indirect government support, such as Christian Aid, Diakonia, and the Norwegian Refugee Council, are also involved in the Durban Strategy based on delegitmization campaigns targeting Israel. ”

Click here to read NGO Monitor’s report on the Transparency Law