Enough is Enough: Say NO to Funding TerrorismThursday 22/04/2021

By Yesica Goblirsch

Funding Terror

August 23^rd, 2017 should have been an enjoyable day for Rina Shnerb, when she and her family decided to hike at a spring near Dolev in Israel. Horrifically, during their hike, a bomb detonated, killing seventeen-year-old Rina and injuring her father and brother. This tragic incident should have never occurred.

It was a terror cell of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a terrorist organization, designated as such by the EU, the US, Canada, and Israel, that planned the attack and detonated the bomb that murdered Rina Shnerb and injured her father and brother. In fact, it was Samer Arbid, an accountant for the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC) who commanded the PFLP terror cell that planned and detonated the bomb that slew Rina. Why does this matter? The UAWC, that holds strong ties to BDS (Boycott, Divest and Sanctions) and is affiliated with the PFLP, was directly financed by the Netherlands. This is only one example of the improper use of European-funded Palestinian organizations.

The Netherlands is not the sole culprit in funding terror activities. The European Union, Belgium, Germany, France and the United Kingdom all have directly or indirectly funded terror-linked organizations. Like the UAWC, the Al-Haq, Addameer and many other organizations, enjoy stable, multi-year funding from Europe while holding strong ties to the PFLP.

You might wonder, how organizations like the UAWC manage to continue to receive funding from the European Union and aforementioned member states. They “whitewash” themselves, deflecting attention to emphasize human rights rather than illicit activities. These funds in fact are supporting illegal and nefarious activities. This reality demands that accountability measures and protocols to stop terror financing be strengthened and improved in order to prevent future tragedies. Terrorism must be condemned in all circumstances.

Accountability

The European Union and its member states, who directly or indirectly fund terror and/or BDS activities, need to be held accountable. Where there is a lack of accountability, integrity and transparency, there is greater room for error and for the abuse and misuse of funds. Not just any funds, but taxpayer funds. It is not fair to taxpayers to have their tax dollars inadvertently or directly inflict or cause violence. They have the right to know how their tax dollars are spent and must hold their respective governments accountable. Any citizen with a genuine heart and love for their country would denounce terror funding in any form.

In light of tragedies like these, the EU needs to hold organizations accountable to reveal sub-granting parties and partners. To disclose how funds received are spent, and to renounce ties to terrorism. Organizations that refuse to comply with these requirements should have their funding frozen until the EU and its member states respond accordingly. These proposed requirements are not unreasonable but are imperative.

Rina Shnerb’s premature demise could have been prevented. Tragedies like Rina’s will be repeated if these organizations continue to receive funding without stipulations. Thus, it is essential that we resolve to do whatever it takes to make sure it does not happen again. The European Union has the tools to better ensure that NGOs do not receive funds due to “whitewashing” themselves. The EU countries need to make an effort to inform themselves how their donations are being used. One way to encourage this, is for European taxpayers to hold their governments accountable. They must demand disclosures, transparency and that their leaders actively shun the funding of terrorism and violence.

Terror financing is unacceptable and there is no excuse for not holding organizations with ties to terrorism accountable. We need to learn from tragic experiences and bring about positive change. Terrorism in its entirety is wrong. Enough is enough, it is time to draw a line and say no to funding terrorism.