July 14th, 2008 by NGO Monitor Staff | Category: Human Rights, Gisha, EU, Ethics

My oped — An NGO black hole in the Foreign Ministry, Jerusalem Post, July 08, 2008 — received a number of comments, some more serious than others, and a mix no surprise of criticism and agreement. While the main focus was on the failure of the Israeli government to respond seriously to the NGO role in demonization and preparations for the 2009 Durban Review Conference, the example referring to the Fulbright controversy needs a few corrections. I accused Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice of making a “false charge” in criticizing Israel for not allowing candidates for a Fulbright fellowship to leave Hamas-controlled Gaza.

As I understand it (and the various US officials involved were not forthcoming in providing clarification), the general closure policy adopted by Israel in response to the rockets attacks included would-be students, and after despairing of receiving Israeli agreement (perhaps after being turned down by the Defense Ministry), the Fulbright officials cancelled this year’s group. (The details are unclear — State Department spokesman Sean McCormack admitted: “Was there a faulty decision-making process internal to the State Department in this particular case? Yes, there was.”) In this context, Rice’s response to a journalists question may have been an unfair simplification, but it was not a false charge.

The other error concerned the means by which the New York Times and others received the unfortunate and misleading statement (this is an understatement) from MK Rabbi Michael Melchior that referred to Israeli policy as “collective punishment.” I have since learned that the source was the official summary of the Knesset committee session (the existence of which was not revealed to NGO Monitor for over a week), and not the Gisha press release.
 
Beyond these points, other responses to my oped concerned the central role of NGOs in promoting Israel bashing through human rights rhetoric and double standards, as featured in the Durban process. Sari Bahsi’s critical letter to the Jerusalem Post is a case in point. She again distorts international law beyond recognition to support her political agenda, and is silent on the violation of the human rights of Israelis, including student victims of Hamas terror attacks. Similarly, Bahsi’s reference to a healthy civil society is ironic given Gisha’s dependence on funding from European governments. (And Gisha’s claims on behalf of at least one Palestinian who forged a university acceptance letter did not help this NGOs credibility.)
 
There may be a case for a change in policy that, despite the control of Hamas, would permit a small number of Gazans to travel through Israel to Jordan, in order to study in the US and perhaps also to Europe. The dangers appear low, and some may return to contribute to Palestinian understanding and acceptance of Israel, and support an end to terrorism. And this would take an issue away from politicized NGOs like Gisha and Machsom Watch, which contribute to the demonization of Israel and have eroded the moral foundation of universal human rights.

Gerald Steinberg

July 14