Dutch reject calls to cease funding Palestinian groups
By Adri Nieuwhof, Electronic
Intifada, 7 December 2016. The Dutch government has rejected calls to cease funding organizations that advocate a boycott of Israel.
Intifada, 7 December 2016. The Dutch government has rejected calls to cease funding organizations that advocate a boycott of Israel.
Bert Koenders, the
Dutch foreign minister (pictured visiting Gaza in 2015), has defended the right
of campaigners to boycott Israel. Ashraf AmraAPA images
Dutch foreign minister (pictured visiting Gaza in 2015), has defended the right
of campaigners to boycott Israel. Ashraf AmraAPA images
In June this year, NGO
Monitor – a lobby group with close ties to the Israeli political and
military establishments claimed it had scored a significant
victory in the Netherlands.
Monitor – a lobby group with close ties to the Israeli political and
military establishments claimed it had scored a significant
victory in the Netherlands.
NGO Monitor was
referring to a decision made by the Dutch parliament that a review should be
undertaken of the country’s aid to organizations supporting the Palestinian-led boycott,
divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement. According to NGO
Monitor, the parliament’s vote was the result of briefings that the lobby group
had provided on how “radical” activists were engaged in the “demonization” of
Israel.
referring to a decision made by the Dutch parliament that a review should be
undertaken of the country’s aid to organizations supporting the Palestinian-led boycott,
divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement. According to NGO
Monitor, the parliament’s vote was the result of briefings that the lobby group
had provided on how “radical” activists were engaged in the “demonization” of
Israel.
The government in The
Hague has now made it clear, however, that it will not bar BDS advocates from
receiving aid.
Hague has now made it clear, however, that it will not bar BDS advocates from
receiving aid.
Doing so would not be
conducive towards ensuring “healthy relationships between the government and
civil society,” Bert Koenders and Lilian Ploumen, the ministers for foreign
affairs and development aid, have jointly stated.
conducive towards ensuring “healthy relationships between the government and
civil society,” Bert Koenders and Lilian Ploumen, the ministers for foreign
affairs and development aid, have jointly stated.
Their comments were
made in response to queries by a committee in the Dutch
parliament that has been studying what action should be taken following the
June vote. That vote was not legally binding.
made in response to queries by a committee in the Dutch
parliament that has been studying what action should be taken following the
June vote. That vote was not legally binding.
Discrimination?
The two ministers
also rejected calls for BDS activities to be punished on the grounds that they
involved “discrimination” against Israel.
also rejected calls for BDS activities to be punished on the grounds that they
involved “discrimination” against Israel.
According to the two
ministers, “human rights, including the prohibition of discrimination, aim to
explicitly protect individuals [and] groups of individuals.” Such protection
does not apply to states, they added.
ministers, “human rights, including the prohibition of discrimination, aim to
explicitly protect individuals [and] groups of individuals.” Such protection
does not apply to states, they added.
“On the basis of
freedom of speech it is allowed to call on a government to take sanctions
against another country,” they added.
freedom of speech it is allowed to call on a government to take sanctions
against another country,” they added.
The Netherlands has
long been perceived by Israel as an ally and the
statement by the two ministers is unlikely to alter that perception. Despite
the ministers’ willingness to defend the right to advocate boycotts, the
Netherlands shares the objective of all EU governments of wishing to boost trade with Israel.
long been perceived by Israel as an ally and the
statement by the two ministers is unlikely to alter that perception. Despite
the ministers’ willingness to defend the right to advocate boycotts, the
Netherlands shares the objective of all EU governments of wishing to boost trade with Israel.
Nonetheless, the
response from Koenders and Ploumen appears to mark a departure from that taken
by previous Dutch governments.
response from Koenders and Ploumen appears to mark a departure from that taken
by previous Dutch governments.
Uri Rosenthal, the Dutch foreign minister from
2010 to 2012, spoke out against the granting of public funds to organizations
that defended the rights of Palestinians. Rosenthal promised CIDI,
an Israel lobby group, that “intervention will occur in cases of organizations
acting against Dutch policy.”
2010 to 2012, spoke out against the granting of public funds to organizations
that defended the rights of Palestinians. Rosenthal promised CIDI,
an Israel lobby group, that “intervention will occur in cases of organizations
acting against Dutch policy.”
Despite that pledge,
the Netherlands has continued to receive complaints from the Israel lobby. NGO
Monitor has focused particularly on Dutch financial
support for the Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Secretariat.
Based in the West Bank town of al-Bireh, the secretariat provides grants to Palestinian human
rights groups, some of which have endorsed the BDS call.
the Netherlands has continued to receive complaints from the Israel lobby. NGO
Monitor has focused particularly on Dutch financial
support for the Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law Secretariat.
Based in the West Bank town of al-Bireh, the secretariat provides grants to Palestinian human
rights groups, some of which have endorsed the BDS call.
The Netherlands has a
long tradition of aiding groups that campaign against oppression and poverty.
It is one of only six governments in the world to exceed an international target of
devoting more than 0.7 percent of gross national income to development aid.
long tradition of aiding groups that campaign against oppression and poverty.
It is one of only six governments in the world to exceed an international target of
devoting more than 0.7 percent of gross national income to development aid.
The latest assurances
indicate that Palestinian rights groups will keep on receiving aid from the
Dutch government.
indicate that Palestinian rights groups will keep on receiving aid from the
Dutch government.
