Ec Support For Ilam3

Dear Mrs. Balanson, Thank you very much for your email requesting more information on the EIDHR project implemented by I'lam. The project ended on 01/08 /2007. Regarding the other question, as already mentioned at different occasions : "the European Commission (EC) supports only specific projects and welldefined actions which are carried out by NGOs in full compliance with EC rules and procedures. The EC does not expect the concerned NGOs to systematically express opinions that are in line with the EU external policy. The EU fully supports diversity of opinions and the right of expression as long as this is in line with our fundamental democratic principles. This general approach has the support of the European Parliament and the Council."

I hope I answered your questions. If you need any further clarifications, please do not hesitate to contact me. Regards G. Arena

Gianmatteo ARENA Head of Operations EUROPEAN UNION Delegation of the European Commission to the State of Israel Switchboard 972-3 613 7799 Ext 931 ; Fax: 972-3 613 7770 Direct line 972-3 6000 921 ; Cell: 972-54-2240 779 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.delisr.ec.europa.eu

From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] O n Behalf Of Naftali Balanson Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 9:55 AM To: GALVIN Eric (RELEX-TEL AVIV)

Cc: Gerald Steinberg-NGO Monitor; ARENA Gianmatteo (RELEX-TEL AVIV); DICKINSON Roy (RELEX-EAST JERUSALEM) Subject: EC funding for I'lam Media Center - Hide quoted text -

February 16, 2009 Eric Galvin EIDHR Coordinator Delegation of the European Commission to the State of Israel RE: EC funding for I'lam Media Center

Dear Mr. Galvin, NGO Monitor will be publishing a report on I'lam, and would appreciate a response to the following questions: 1) According to the EIDHR "worldwide document" (http://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/where/worldwide/eidhr/documents/updated_rep ort_by_location_en.pdf), starting in 2004, the European Commission funded a project of the I'lam Media Center entitled "Responsible and Professional Media." Has the funding for this project ended? 2) I'lam's General Director Haneen Zoubi was quoted in Ha'aretz on February 6, 2009 and in the Jerusalem Post on Feb. 9, 2009 (see below). Haneen Zoubi was elected to the Knesset on the Balad party list. Are you aware of Zoubi's statements and activities, and if so, do you have any comments? Ha'aretz: "We, the Arabs, as the victims of the process which occurred here, set the agenda, and the Jews join us as the whites joined the blacks in the struggle against the Apartheid in South Africa...We, the victims, offer

equality and say: come and recognize our tragedy, recognize the Nakba." "[Zionism] is a racist ideology." (http://www.haaretz.co.il/hasite/spages/1061494.html?more=1) Jerusalem Post: "A woman represents the struggle of Arab society just as the Arab man represents it, the struggle against the racist politics or regime in Israel, against the distortion of the Arab identity, the confiscation of a person's Palestinian identity and the land of the Palestinian people, and the rights of the Palestinian people inside Israel." (http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/Sho wFull&cid=1233304731849) We would welcome any additional comments on EC support for the I'lam Media Center. Sincerely, Naftali Balanson Managing Editor NGO Monitor

cc: Gerald Steinberg, Executive Director, NGO Monitor Roy Dickinson, Chargé d'affaires, ECTechnical Assistance Delegation to Gaza and the West Bank Gianmatteo Arena, Head of Operations, Delegation of the European Commission to the State of Israel