B’nai B’rith Unveils Study: Aligning Principles and Practice: EU Assistance to the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian NGOs

Rethinking the Approach to Meet Normative Goals

(Washington, D.C., Dec. 16, 2021)—B’nai B’rith International announces the Dec. 21 release of a unique and groundbreaking report into the European Union’s assistance toward Palestinian beneficiaries.

The report, titled “Aligning Principles and Practice: EU Assistance to the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian NGOs, Rethinking the Approach to Meet Normative Goals,” is a unique, comprehensive guide to European Union funding to the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Palestinian NGOs. It provides a deep look into shortcomings in the EU’s implementation of its stated values in relation to Palestinian actors—including the unconditional nature of most funding—and offers recommendations to improve oversight and accountability.

The report finds that the EU has neither pushed the Palestinian Authority to significant reforms nor held it accountable for its human rights violations. The European Union has not substantively addressed the infamously persistent issue of so-called “pay-for-slay” payments—financing to the families of convicted terrorists by the PA. At the same time, the implementation of the anti-terrorism clause for NGOs has been opaque. Building on research commissioned by the European Union itself, we address persistent anti-Semitism in Palestinian textbooks utilized in United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) schools.

The report comes at an important time: Tectonic shifts are taking place in the Middle East, with Israel forging new and unprecedented ties and potentially cutting the Gordian knot of political deadlock in the Middle East.

A new European Union Action Plan for Palestine is upcoming and a first ever EU Strategy on Combating Anti-Semitism with a strong foreign policy mandate was published earlier this year.

We hope the report will provide momentum for the EU to review its approach and put in place policies that will lead to much needed, and long neglected, accountability in the face of Palestinian rejectionism, terror and incitement.

The report “Aligning Principles and Practice: EU Assistance to the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian NGOs, Rethinking the Approach to Meet Normative Goals” was authored by Dr. Tommaso Virgili and Dr. Paul Stott.

Join B’nai B’rith International for a launch event on Dec. 21, 2021, 10 a.m.. ET | 4 p.m.. CET | 5 p.m.. Israel.

The event will feature Members of the European Parliament; B’nai B’rith International CEO Daniel S. Mariaschin; Dr. Einat Wilf, author and former Knesset member; and the report’s authors.

Register for the event here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_CSqjd7I2ROW46TX0PeyEgw

B’nai B’rith International has advocated for global Jewry and championed the cause of human rights since 1843. B’nai B’rith is recognized as a vital voice in promoting Jewish unity and continuity, a staunch defender of the State of Israel, a tireless advocate on behalf of senior citizens and a leader in disaster relief. With a presence around the world, we are the Global Voice of the Jewish Community. Visit www.bnaibrith.org