What is the Problem of Interference by Foreign Governments?

Foreign Governmental Interference in Israel’s Sovereign Affairs: a tale of massively funded manipulation, cynicism, and hypocrisy

Executive Summary

Foreign governments, particularly in Europe, are fond of extolling their support for Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East. At the same time, they have been engaged in a decades-long campaign to attempt to influence, steer and re-direct Israel’s sovereign policymaking in accordance with their own dictates.

These countries have chosen to ignore Israel’s sovereignty to throw their weight around the way they did during the pre-State period. And they are spending enormous sums to try to get their way.

How does this interference work? Simply — by financing Israeli NGOs that reflect the objectives of the  foreign governments, the interferers hope to influence and to redirect Israeli policy as they see fit.

This of course is a blatant and cynical attempt to bypass the policies of the sovereign government of Israel, and to engage in back door, indirect diplomacy that would never be tolerated within their own borders.

The numbers are staggering, exceeding more than $200 million over a decade, spread among some 70 organizations, most of which enjoy very little popular support within Israel, and many of which receive a significant percentage, in some cases a majority, of their funding from these foreign governmental sources.

We invite you to read the detailed report which can be accessed here. What you will see is a widespread effort to thwart, disrupt, and otherwise prevent the democratically constituted government of Israel from protecting the interests of its own citizens in the fight against terrorism, immigration policy, border security, and the efforts to integrate minorities into Israeli society.

The challenges that Israel faces are multiple, serious, and in some cases intractable. By having foreign governments throw their money around in an attempt to “save Israel from itself,” these governments ironically act against their own true interests in a strong and secure democratic Israel.

We at Im Tirtzu believe it is important for the citizens of Israel, and for Israel’s supporters throughout the world to know this state of affairs, and to see these Israeli NGOs for what they are: agents for the agendas of foreign governmental funders.