EU financial support to Palestinian non‑governmental organisations declared as terrorist organisations by Israel
17.12.2021
Question for written answer E-005625/2021
to the Commission
Rule 138
Pedro Marques, Tonino Picula, Maria Arena, Evin Incir, Margarida Marques, Giuliano Pisapia, Nacho Sánchez Amor
on behalf of the S&D Group
On 22 October 2021, the Israeli Ministry of Defence declared six Palestinian non‑governmental organisations (NGOs) – Al‑Haq, the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees, the Addameer Institute, the Bisan Center for Research and Development, Defence for Children International and the Union of Agricultural Works Committees – as terrorist organisations under the 2016 Counterterrorism Law, based on still unsubstantiated accusations of links with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
The Commission has suspended EU funding to al‑Haq and has instructed Oxfam to cut funding to the Union of Agricultural Works Committees until the situation has been clarified.
- 1.On what grounds has the Commission decided to pre‑emptively penalise these two NGOs by cutting EU financial support, without having received any evidence of the accusations by Israel?
- 2.Taking into account the fact that Israel is delaying the submission of proof of its accusations and that these NGOs are consequently being hampered from providing vital support to Palestinian society, is the Commission taking any steps to urge Israel to substantiate its accusations?