NGO Monitor (Non-governmental organization monitor) is an Israeli non-governmental organization with the stated aim of monitoring other non-governmental organizations operating in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. NGO Monitor describes its objective as "Promoting critical debate and accountability of Human Rights NGOs in the Arab Israeli conflict."[1]
Structure and staff
The NGO Monitor is the central project of the Organization for NGO Responsibility, an independent non-profit organization registered in Israel. It was formerly a joint project of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs and B'nai Brith International founded jointly with the Wechsler Family Foundation .[2] Its staff includes:[1] NGO Monitor states that it was founded jointly with the Wechsler Family Foundation. Nina Rosenwald, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting[3], is another NGO Monitor donor.[4]
- Gerald M. Steinberg, Executive Director (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)[5]
- Sarah Mandel, Associate Editor
- Anne Herzberg, Director of Research and Legal Advisor
as well as several researchers and interns.
Activities
NGO Monitor has criticized several international human rights organisations, such as Christian Aid (for its alleged "extensive involvement in anti-Israel propaganda campaigns"[6]), Human Rights Watch (for being "systematically and exceedingly biased"[7]), Amnesty International,[8] Oxfam[8], the Center for Constitutional Rights and Medecins Sans Frontieres.[9]
It has also accused the Ford Foundation of funding organisations such as the Palestinian Al Mezan Center, which it claimed was involved in "blatantly political anti-Israel activities".[10] Subsequent to this criticism, the Ford Foundation modified its policies regarding funding of NGOs. [11]
Praise of activities
In an editorial for the online conservative political magazine FrontPageMag.com, David Bedein, bureau chief of the Israel Resource News Agency, describes NGO Monitor as a "watchdog organization".[12]
NGO Monitor's reports appear regularly on the "Around the World" section of the "Hotbeds of Prejudice" subpage of the Israeli Hasbara Committee website [13], which defines itself as "a voluntary organisation" whose motto is "disseminating the truth about Israel and the Jewish people."
References
- ^ a b "About NGO Monitor". NGO Monitor.
- ^ [1]
- ^ Hudson Institute: Staff Bio
- ^ NGO Monitor: Founding Donor
- ^ "Professor Gerald M. Steinberg". Bar-Ilan University.
- ^ "Christian Aid (UK)". NGO Monitor.
- ^ "Special Report: "Activity Summary of Human Rights Watch March 2003 - March 2004"". NGO Monitor.
- ^ a b ""Human Rights Groups are Working Against Peace"". NGO Monitor.
- ^ "´Political Humanitarianism´ and Medical NGOs". NGO Monitor.
- ^ [2]
- ^ [3]
- ^ [4]
- ^ [5]