Israel’s designation of leading Palestinian NGOs as "terrorist groups"

Israel’s Defense Minister Gantz has declared six Palestinian civil society organizations to be illegal "terror organizations". The list includes leading human rights organizations Addameer, Al Haq, Bisan Center, Defense for Children International – Palestine (DCI-P), Union Of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC) and the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees (UPWC). 

These organizations have for years worked to protect the human rights of Palestinans including women, farmers and children, while providing support for people suffering the everyday abuse of the occupation.

By classifying these veteran and acclaimed organizations as “terrorist organizations”, the Israeli government’s decision deals a major blow to Palestinian civil society and harms ties between Palestinian and Israeli organizations in their common struggle against the occupation and for peace.

The decision is a crude attempt to silence some of the most prominent voices that bring attention to the crimes perpetrated by Israel as it carries out its policy of control and subjugation of millions of Palestinians living in their own land.

Together with peace and human rights organizations in Israel and around the world, Wahat al-Salam / Neve Shalom condemns this baneful decision and calls upon the government of Israel to immediately abrogate it.

If the government wishes to uphold the rule of law, it could start by halting illegal settlement activity, reining in the “hilltop youth” and bringing to justice the Jewish terrorist groups that work without inhibition or restraint throughout the West Bank. Instead, the government is acting to expand and strengthen the settlements and further poison the lives of Palestinians.

As a joint Jewish - Palestinian village existing for many years, Wahat al-Salam / Neve Shalom has proven to the world that peace between the two peoples becomes possible when it is based on equality, education, democracy, justice and power sharing. Without a basic respect for the rights of all citizens and a solid multigenerational effort towards peace, neither Jews nor Palestinians will reap the benefits of peace or enjoy security.

Wahat al-Salam / Neve Shalom will continue to support civil society organizations on both sides of the fence that are engaged in peaceful resistance against the oppression of an entire people by occupation and military force.