The Palestinian NGOs Network demanded the European Union to pressure to reverse the decision of the Dutch government to end its funding for The Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC) and not to succumb to Israeli blackmail.
During its meeting with the Director of the European Union Office in the Gaza Strip, Ayman Fatiha, PNGO coordination committee confirmed that the Dutch decision came in response to the Israeli incitement campaign against Palestinian civil society organization. This is considered a flagrant violation of international covenants and treaties concerning the right to form associations and the independence of their work.
PNGO coordination committee indicated that the UAWC is a non-governmental organization that operates under Palestinian law and is committed to the principles of international law and human rights. UAWC has an important role in strengthening farmers' steadfastness in the face of Israeli attacks and violations.
Moreover, the PNGO coordination Committee affirmed that the Israeli occupation seeks to deprive NGOs of their funding by labeling them as terrorist organizations along with running systematic incitement campaigns. These practices mainly aim at undermining the vital role of these organizations in exposing the malpractices of the Israeli occupation against Palestinian farmers.
In the same context, PNGO Network called on the European Union to continue its support for the Union of Agricultural Work Committees and other NGOs, to pressure for the protection of these organizations, and to rebut the Israeli smear campaigns.
At the end of the meeting, PNGO Coordination Committee handed Mr. Fatiha a letter calling on the European Union to take serious action to ensure that the Netherlands reversed its decision and continued its support for the Union of Agricultural Work Committees, stressing that Palestinian civil work will continue its role in order to strengthen the steadfastness of our people within a human rights vision and the international law framework to achieve Justice