| Now that MP Geert Wilder isn't distracted by that court case, things are getting more interesting in Dutch politics. |
The Jerusalem Post obtained a transcript of the panel from an observer at the June 15 session in Holland's parliament.
According to the transcript, leading Dutch humanitarian relief organizations defended boycott, divestment and sanctions actions against Israel, prompting Johan Driesen, from the Party for Freedom (PVV),| The PVV is Geert Wilder's party. At the beginning, he was the only member. Now they are the power brokers of the coalition government, and can dictate terms. |
Rene Grotenhuis, director n for Relief and Development Aid (Cordaid), said e debate that "discussion over boycott of Israel
Henk Jan Ormel, from the Dutch emocratic Appeal party, said he was "very surprised" to hear from the Interchurch Organization for Development Cooperation (ICCO) elieves that "the two-state solution is not the basic assumption
In response to a query asking why ICCsupports the website Electronic Intifada, Director Marinus Verweij termed it ted news source used by newspapers
| There is a difference between |
He continued, "The Dutch aid organizations are seeing their budgets cut because of this. The real victims here will not be the directors with their huge salaries, but Palestinians and people in Africa in need of assistance."
Professor Gerald Steinberg, the head of NGO Monitor, told the Post on Thursday, "Until recently, most Dutch legislators and officials had little information on how NGOs involved in the Arab-Israeli conflict utilize Dutch funding.
"Some political advocacy NGOs abusing the rhetoric of human rights have significant impacts, but there are no mechanisms to hold NGOs accountable for their activities. For example, Dutch funding for ICCO goes to groups such as Badil, Electronic Intifada, and CWP [Coalition of Women for Peace]. They promote pro- BDS and similar agendas which are in direct contradiction to Dutch government policy. An independent and detailed review of all NGO funding -- both direct and indirect -- is long overdue."
Driesen asked Oxfam Novib at the panel why the charity provided funds to the Dutch NGO "Stop de Bezeting" (Stop the Occupation). He noted that the group's founder, Greta Duisenberg, had participated in demonstrations calling for Jews to be gassed, | Slightly beyond the Pale, that. |
Oxfam Novib's Director, Farah Karimi, declined to specifically address its financial aid for "Stop de Bezeting."
"The business we have come to discuss is of extreme importance to you and your party, and I find it a shame to sit and speak about the behavior of Greta Duisenberg," said Karimi. CIDI noted in a report last month that over the past three years the Dutch government has allocated at least 10m. euros to groups dedicated to promoting a boycott of Israel. In response to CIDI's report, Rosenthal told CIDI he will "intervene to block funding to groups promoting the BDS campaign."
| There'sa new sheriff in town, and he's got no patience for the traditional nonsense. |