‘Critic to Israel’: Document reveals how Israel scrutinised global NGOs | Israel-Palestine conflict News
Document Reveals Israel’s Surveillance of Charities Linked to BDS Movement
An official document obtained by Al Jazeera reveals that Israel collected data on charitable organizations in 2013, highlighting several prominent humanitarian groups based on their views related to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
The document, a spreadsheet accessed from an Israeli ministry’s website, includes the names, addresses, phone numbers, emails, and directors of over 150 charities. Notably, 15 organizations were specified in a “comments” column, which contained remarks such as “critic of Israel” for the France-based Premiere Urgence Internationale and “highly involved in BDS” for the Spanish NGO Mundubat. The term “BDS” refers to the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement aimed at opposing Israeli policies.
Oxfam, another charity mentioned in the document, was described as “active in global BDS efforts.” The organization stated to Al Jazeera that the comments reflect allegations rather than objective assessments of its work. An Oxfam spokesperson emphasized the charity’s commitment to international law and refuted any association with the BDS movement.
Tania Hary, executive director of Gisha, an Israeli NGO advocating for Palestinian freedom of movement, characterized the document as lacking relevance to security matters. She asserted it serves as evidence of the Israeli government’s surveillance of organizations dedicated to humanitarian aid in the occupied territories, emphasizing that Gisha was not listed in the file.
This document was released by the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs, previously known as the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, and Social Services. The ministry did not respond to requests for comment.
Many of the annotations in the spreadsheet attributed their sources to NGO Monitor, an organization based in Israel that claims to be a nonpartisan research institute. Critics have described NGO Monitor as having a right-wing agenda that focuses on delegitimizing groups supportive of Palestinian rights.
The document was created in October 2013, a period marked by growing momentum for the BDS movement. That year, prominent figures such as physicist Stephen Hawking declined to participate in events hosted in Israel due to the occupation. Additionally, several student organizations adopted academic boycotts, while the United Church of Canada launched a campaign against products from Israeli settlements, deemed illegal under international law.
Experts suggest that the information demonstrates Israel’s strategy to monitor organizations associated with the BDS movement and related advocacy, which preceded the enactment of a law in 2017 that prohibits entry to individuals supporting BDS.
Giovanni Fassina, director of the European Legal Support Center, noted that the legislation aimed at countering BDS arose during a time when Israel felt significant pressure from the movement.
Other charities mentioned in the spreadsheet include ACSUR-Las Segovias of Spain, DanChurchAid from Denmark, and the Medical Aid for Palestinians from the UK. The document specifically cites Tsafrir Cohen, director of Medico International, who has written about BDS campaigns. Cohen’s organization has stated it does not support BDS, but acknowledges the right of individuals to advocate for it.
Representatives from the Palestine Solidarity Association of Sweden, which has no active presence in occupied territories, confirmed that the Israeli government closely monitors groups advocating for Palestinian rights. This group views the nonviolent BDS movement as a strategic threat.
The document’s implications are underscored by the evolving relationship between NGOs and Israel, particularly in light of Israel’s recent military actions in Gaza, which have reportedly resulted in over 73,000 Palestinian deaths since October 2023. During this period, Israeli authorities have restricted aid to Gaza and limited the entry of foreign humanitarian workers.
Sukarieh highlighted that international charities have historically been involved in essential work within Palestine, but have faced increasing restrictions and surveillance from Israeli authorities over the years.
