US cues upgrade of diplomatic mission to Palestinians
Al JazeeraDec 27, 2021
US Lawmakers Denounce Israel's Blacklisting of Palestinian NGOs
Image copyright:Â AP Photo [via Al Jazeera]
The Facts
A group of 21 Congressional Democrats has urged the Biden admin. to publicly reject Israel's labelling of six Palestinian human rights organizations as "terrorist" groups associated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).
Israel first accused the NGOs of being associated with terrorism in Oct. 2021, after an earlier investigation by security agency Shin Bet alleged that they had raised and laundered money for the PFLP, as well as forged documents for them, recruited activists, and witnessed high-level meetings at their offices.
The Spin
Pro-Palestine narrative
The attacks against the NGOs - one of which focuses on protecting Palestinian children from state-backed violence - is a cynical attempt to stifle Palestinian rights and dissent. Calling out Israel's flagrant disregard for international norms and human rights is the right thing to do.
Pro-Israel narrative
There's no question that these "NGOs" are related to terrorism. There is a clear connection between a number of Palestinian NGOs and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which has killed innocent Israeli civilians in recent years.