Podcast Ep 21: How the EU polices Palestinian rights groups

On Episode 21, we are joined by Lubnah Shomali, advocacy manager with Badil Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights, to talk about the detrimental impact that international aid agencies can have on Palestinian civil society.

Badil, which is based in Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, recently refused a grant from the European Union because of conditions that were unacceptable to the organization.

The EU had insisted that Badil sign a document deeming seven Palestinian political groupings as terrorist organizations.

The clauses in the EU grant “were imposing the European understanding of what is terrorism on a population that is under occupation and colonial oppression,” Shomali tells The Electronic Intifada Podcast.

“It completely ignores the legal and historic context of Palestine and the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people under international law,” she adds.

Shomali explains that the conditions would have forced Badil to function as “a security apparatus for the European Union.”

Articles we discussed

“Why Palestinian rights groups reject EU funding” (Lubnah Shomali)
“European union conditional funding: Its illegality and political implications” (Badil)

Image: Lubnah Shomali at Badil (Eyewitness Palestine)

Music: “Rafif” (Kamilya Jubran)

Theme music and production assistance by Sharif Zakout

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