View of Berlin, Germany. Photo: wiki commons.

A new report from watchdog NGO Monitor has found that the German government has indirectly been funding organizations that engage in anti-Israel activity.

In a statement on Monday, NGO Monitor said that money from the German state is channeled through German political foundations (stiftungen), church aid organizations, and NGOs before making its way to groups within Israel that then spend the money.

“The German Government and people are important supporters of Israeli universities, Holocaust programs, and research institutes, which is very positive,” Prof. Gerald Steinberg, President of NGO Monitor, said. “However, this does not justify the damage done by NGOs that receive funds from Germany and are among the leaders of the boycott and demonization projects attacking Israel.”

NGO Monitor cited German government funding for Israeli NGO Zochrot, as coming through the Rosa Luxembourg Stiftung, Medico International, Misereor, and the Remembrance, Responsibility and Future Foundation (EVZ).

It said, “Zochrot proclaims, ‘the rights of the [Palestinian] refugees to return must be accepted,’ which is equivalent to calling for the elimination of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people. EVZ ended Zochrot funding in 2012 because ‘EVZ supports educational projects but does not support organizations that also have a political agenda.’ Other foundations should follow this precedent.”

This “channeling of German taxpayer funds… is inconsistent with German policies and moral obligations,” NGO Monitor said.