On March 21-22, 2016, the Israeli NGO Zochrot will hold “The Third International Conference on the Return of Palestinian Refugees” in Tel Aviv. The two day event will include speakers from NGOs and academia, all promoting a Palestinian “right of return.” This so-called “right” including multiple generations has no basis in international law, is a primary obstacle to peace, and equivalent to calling for the elimination of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people.

As with many other Zochrot initiatives, this conference is in partnership with Badil, one of the most virulently anti-Israel NGOs. In 2012, Zochrot and Badil published a manifesto that encourages a “de-zionized” one-state solution, essentially calling for Israel to be dismantled. Badil also consistently posts antisemitic cartoons and posters on its website.

Funding

The conference program bears the logo of American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), a US-based Quaker organization that leads anti-Israel BDS campaigns on college campuses and in churches.
  • The group is involved in writing and promoting divestment resolutions, as well as training BDS activists in the United States. AFSC funds Israeli NGOs including Social TV, Who Profits, Coalition of Women for Peace, Yesh Gvul, and Zochrot.
  • AFSC works with NGOs that encourage Israelis to refuse to serve in the IDF.
  • The head of AFSC’s Economic Activism Program, Dalit Baum, is a co-founder of Who Profits, a clearinghouse for BDS information. She leads AFSC’s BDS efforts.
  • One of AFSC’s supporters is the Rockefeller Brothers Fund (RBF), a private fund in the United States that provides grants to a number of BDS organizations including Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) and the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation.

Zochrot funders

NGO-affiliated speakers

The program includes fringe individuals involved in deligitimization campaigns against Israel, such as Ilan Pappe, Uri Davis, and Daphne Golan.

Many of these individuals are affiliated with NGOs funded by the EU, European governments, and the New Israel Fund (NIF). The speakers’ one-state agendas are in sharp contrast to the policies and principles of the funders-enablers.

Baladna – Nadim Nashif, Director

  • Baladna refers to the establishment of the State of Israel as “Nakba” (catastrophe) and encourages Israeli Arab youth to refuse to do national service or serve in the IDF.
  • Received €244,371 from the European Union for “promoting and protecting freedom of expression rights of Arab youth in Israel.”
  • In 2011-2014, the New Israel Fund (NIF) authorized grants worth $100,000 to Baladna.

Badil – name of speaker not listed

  • Badil’s funding is entirely non-transparent. Research reveals that Badil received a core funding grant of $260,000 (2014-2016) from the Human Rights and International Law Secretariat (joint funding from Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark and the Netherlands). Badil has also received funding from DanChurchAid (Denmark) and Trócaire (Ireland).
  • Badil uses demonizing language such as “state-sponsored racism,” and “systematic ethnic cleansing.” Badil regularly publishes antisemitic cartoons and other materials advocating the destruction of the state of Israel.
  • In 2012, Badil and Zochrot co-authored a document discussing practical ways to dismantle the state of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.

Social TV – Yudit Ilany

  • Ilany is a correspondence for Social TV, a highly political Israeli NGO. She also serves as parliamentary advisor for MK Hannin Zoabi.
  • Social TV acts as a platform for accusations of Israeli “apartheid,” “racism,” “discrimination,” and perpetrating a “Nakba” against the Palestinian population, and to advocate the “one-state” solution, a Palestinian “right of return” and BDS (boycotts, divestments and sanctions) against Israel.
  • Funders of Social TV include CCFD (France), Cordaid (Netherlands), Rosa Luxemburg Foundation (Germany), American Friends Service Committee, and NIF.
  • In 2008-2014, the New Israel Fund (NIF) authorized grants of $243,480 to Social TV (appears under the name “Syncopa Community”).