‘Hypocrisy’: Israel’s envoy slams UN support for PFLP-linked organisations
Israel’s Ambassador to the US and the United Nations (UN) Gilad Erdan dispatched on Tuesday a firm letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and the Security Council after the Palestinian Authority (PA) sent two letters of complaint against Israel to the UN regarding Israel’s declaration of six supposed civil society organizations as terrorist organizations.
Masked militants of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) march in an anti-Israel rally in Gaza City, Gaza, Jun 2, 2021. Photo by Majdi Fathi/TPS
Ambassador Erdan wrote: “I despise UN officials who, in their hypocrisy, could fight terrorism but instead condemn Israel for its war on organizations that fund it.”
On October 22, in accordance with the Israeli Counter-Terrorism Law of 2016, Israel designated six supposed human rights organizations that are closely linked to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a designated terror organization in Israel, the US, the European Union, Australia, Canada and Japan.
A detailed investigation conducted by Israeli authorities revealed extensive information as to how the PFLP raised funds through a network of institutions, acting under the guise of human rights organizations, including through the six proscribed six entities.
The aim of this network is to raise and funnel donations from abroad to fund PFLP activities, including its acts of terror. The network of PFLP institutions operated under the guise of humanitarian aid and human rights activity, receiving funding in millions of euros from governments that are UN Member States.
“These institutions serve as PFLP’s financial lifeline and were deeply involved in money laundering and terrorist financing. They have all engaged in forgery of documents and fraudulent activities, knowingly transferring funds allocated by their foreign donors for the purpose of supporting Palestinian civil society, into the hands of a murderous terror organization,” Erdan charged.
These institutions employed known, sometimes self-declared, PFLP operatives, allowing them the benefits of regular salaries, and the ability to use their facilities as safe haven for PFLP activities.
“While Israel attaches value to the work of Palestinian civil society organizations, it cannot allow the financing of terrorism under the pretence of humanitarian and civil assistance. With these recent designations, Israel does not seek to curtail freedom of expression nor limit any humanitarian activity. Israel acts against terror, and its channels of funding, in order to protect its citizens and society, as it is obligated to do,” he explained.
Israel “expects the international community to condemn this dangerous abuse of civil society organizations,” and calls on all UN Member States, “in accordance with their obligations to prevent terrorism, money laundering and terrorist financing, to immediately halt any further transfers of funds and any other support to these designated institutions,” he wrote.
Several countries have demanded explanations or condemned Israel for this move.
“I despise UN officials who, in their hypocrisy, could fight terrorism but instead condemn Israel for its war on organizations that fund it,” he underscored.
