Israeli ‘terror’ designation of Palestinian NGOs sparks furious backlash

An Israeli decision to label six Palestinian rights groups and civil society movements as “terror organizations” elicited a swift and fierce backlash Friday, with Palestinians, international organizations and left-wing American politicians slamming the move.

Representatives of at least two of the groups denied the charges, with international organizations accusing Israel of trying to silence criticism of alleged human rights abuses on shaky pretenses.

“Counter-terrorism legislation must not be used to constrain legitimate human rights and humanitarian work,” the United Nations Human Rights Office in Ramallah said, accusing Israel of predicating the decision on “extremely vague or irrelevant reasons, including entirely peaceful and legitimate activities.”

“These designations are the latest development in a long stigmatizing campaign against these and other organizations, damaging their ability to deliver on their crucial work,” it added.

The backlash was sparked after Israel’s government issued military orders alleging that the six organizations were fronts for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Israel, the United States and the European Union consider the PFLP, one of several member parties of the Palestine Liberation Organization, to be a terror group.

“Those organizations were active under the cover of civil society organizations, but in practice belong and constitute an arm of the [PFLP] leadership, the main activity of which is the liberation of Palestine and destruction of Israel,” Defense Minister Benny Gantz’s office said in a statement.

Palestinian celebrate during a rally marking the 46th anniversary of the founding of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestinian (PFLP), in Gaza City on, 7 December 2013. (Emad Nassar/Flash90)

The six organizations named by Gantz’s office are some of the most prominent rights groups in Palestinian civil society. Many have received considerable funding in grants from European Union member states and the United Nations, among other donors.

Israeli authorities named Addameer, which defends Palestinian security prisoners in Israeli courts; Al-Haq, which tracks alleged rights abuses committed by both Israel and the Palestinian Authority; and Defense for Children-International, which advocates on behalf of Palestinian children.

The Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees, the Bisan Research and Advocacy Center and the Union Of Agricultural Work Committees were also declared to be terrorist organizations.

Both Israeli military and civilian law ban supporting or joining a terror group, and violators can face years in prison. Israeli law enforcement can also seize assets belonging to terror organizations and forbids funding their activities; donors may also be subject to significant jail time.

Israeli authorities have charged before that the PFLP has pilfered millions of euros from civil society organizations affiliated with its members to fund terrorist…