Money, Money, Money

And this is just pounds sterling:

Palestinians: International Assistance

Mr Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 1 December 2010, Official Report, columns 830-31W, on Palestinians: international assistance, to what non-governmental organisations in Israel other than in the west bank or Gaza his Department has provided funds in each year since 2003; and for what purposes such payments were made. [36577]

Alistair Burt: Between 2003-04 and 2009-10 financial years, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has provided nearly £3.8 million to non-governmental organisations in Israel (other than in the west bank or Gaza). Final funding for the current financial year cannot be confirmed.

Our funding supports our strategic policy priorities to:

(a) help manage or mitigate conflicts;
(b) monitor and promote human rights, access to justice and social welfare; and
(c) strengthen the bi-lateral relationship.

The following non-governmental organisations have received funding from the Middle East and North Africa Conflict Pool or the Foreign and Commonwealth Office:

Abraham Fund;
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI);
Bimkom;
Birax;
Breaking the Silence;
B'Tselem;
Council for Peace and Security (CPS);
Economic Co-operation Foundation (ECF);
Gisha;
Friends of the Earth Middle East (FOEME);
HaMoked;
Hand in Hand;
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC);
International Palestinian Centre for Research and Information (IPCRI);
Ir Amim;
Itach-Makki;
Local Government Association (LGA-UK Organisation);
Negev Institute for Strategies of Peace and Development (NISPED);
No Legal Frontiers;
Public Committee Against Torture in Israel (PCATI);
Peace Now;
Women for Human Rights;
Yesh Din.

Funny, they are all of one political stripe.

They are all anti-"occupation".

Is that human rights?  With whom can I bi-laterally engage?

Back in September, he prided himself that

...We maintain a regular dialogue with a variety of NGOs

but that was in connection with Sri Lanka and the Tamilis.

In late January, during Burt's visit here:

A statement from the British embassy in Israel said: "The UK has funded many of the organisations which could be probed, and believe that they play a critical role in the region and help contribute towards resolving the conflict between the sides."

That, Minister Burt, I would consider, in the way it is being done, as subversion of Israel' democracy through finance.

This is really not fair, chaps.

Read Danny Ayalon's article on transparency.

(k/t: MH & JH)

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