Since the return of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), the non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been targeted by systematic campaigns aimed at tarnishing their image and undermining their achievements.  It is interesting to note that NGOs working in the field of human rights are especially targeted by these campaigns.  The attacks go as far as slandering human rights activists such as Dr. Haidar Abdel Shafi, Mr. Raji Sourani, Mr. Khader Shkirat, and Dr. Eyad El-Sarraj in an attempt to reduce their credibility.  Indeed, the defamation goes to make some of the campaigners legally liable.

Over the past few days, the anti-NGO campaigns resurfaced after the publication of the UNSCO report on the funding towards the "Rule of Law" sector over the past five years.  This sector includes the Ministry of Justice, courts, Attorney General's Office, Police, Forensic Lab, Palestinian Legislative Council, Palestinian Independent Commission for Citizens' Rights, and relevant NGOs.  The report states that the funding for the NGOs under that sector for the past five years did not exceed 16% of the total amount.

While we agree with the Minister of Justice on the importance of strengthening the Ministry of Justice and the judicial system and not spending the grants on foreign experts, there is no justification to the attacks on the NGOs and undermine their credibility and competence.

We must admit that the judicial system in our country is in disarray, lacks careful planning, and has a significantly diminished authority.  This led to an increasing feeling of frustration and discontent amongst the workers in the judiciary.  Likewise, other sectors endure the same problem existent in the judicial system.  The spreading of favoritism and abuse of power compounds these problems.

If the driving force behind these campaigns is to redirect the funds for NGOs toward PNA agencies, this is a very basic misunderstanding.  If the funding for Palestinian NGOs is stopped, it will not be redirected towards the Palestinian Authority.  On the contrary, it may be reallocated to fund NGOs in other countries.

If the goal behind these campaigns is to raise the level of competence of the NGOs, this goal cannot be achieved through indiscriminate, intentional defamation.  The NGOs working in the field of human rights are a component of the overall Palestinian struggle trying to expose the policies and practices of the occupation against our people.  They are also an integral part of the effort attempting to build the Palestinian society after suffering decades of occupation and humiliation.  Building our homeland has not been and will not be free of errors.  He who works is bound to make a mistake; and he who does nothing will not make any mistakes.  What we all need is that courage and frankness to diagnose the mistakes and admit to making them before putting forth solutions to them.

If the aim of the anti-NGO campaigns is to establish the principles of transparency and to fight corruption, we very much support the aim. In fact, the NGOs cannot ask the PNA to battle corruption and adopt transparency if the NGOs do not practice their preaching. However, it is becoming apparent that the campaigns reflect the increasing feeling of incompetence in the different branches of the PNA, which led the PNA propaganda machine to try to diminish the success of the NGOs, and even try to destroy those organizations.

It is essential that the work of the NGOs be regulated by a law that ensures the transparency of these organizations and coordinate their activities in accordance with national plans for each sector.  In this regard, it is imperative that the NGO law adopted by the Palestinian Legislative Council be published in the official Gazette and implemented.

We all strive to build Palestine, a state based on the rule of law that ensures freedom, dignity, and equality to all.  If our request for democratic participation in building our homeland, abiding by the law, fighting corruption, and respecting the dignity of the people do not follow the whims of some, these people should look into their hearts before hurling accusations at others.

In conclusion, I call upon all Palestinian organizations to stand up to this misleading campaign targeting hundreds of NGOs and thousands of people who offer essential services to the Palestinian people.  I also call upon the  officials in the PNA to issue their instructions to stop the campaign of slander and defamation and resort to the principles of the law and democratic dialogue.

Dr. Eyad El-Sarraj