The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) was recently alerted to a blog post that detailed the virulently anti-Semitic remarks of one Gamal Abdel Nasser Mohammed Abu Nahel, who heads the Palestinian Commission for Refugee Rights Protection (PCRP). The blogger, who did not contact NED to confirm his story, alleges that NED is one of several Western donors supporting the PCRP. This is completely inaccurate.
While NED did provide support to this group during the period of 2007-2011, NED does not currently fund the group and has never had a relationship with Gamal Abdel Nasser Mohammed Abu Nahel; furthermore, he had no affiliation with the PCRP during the period of NED support.
The allegation, however, provides us with an opportunity to reaffirm our approach to grant-making to civil society groups in the region and around the world.
First, we offer assurance that none of our funds are used for purposes, such as anti-Israel advocacy, not approved in our grant agreements. Second, our program officers regularly monitor grantee activities, statements, and websites to ensure that the organizations we fund do not endorse or incite violence or anti-Semitism, regardless of whether or not this is within the context of a NED-supported activity. We have zero tolerance for anti-Semitism or incitement to violence, and would immediately cease to fund any organization that engaged in it.
