The award was also given to Abraham Foxman for his work as Anti-Defamation League director and to iconic Israeli actor Chaim Topol for founding and running the Jordan River Village camp for kids suffering from serious illnesses.

“NGO Monitor humbly appreciates the recognition by the Begin Heritage Center for our contributions and years of hard work,” NGO Monitor founder and president Professor Gerald Steinberg said in a statement.

“Menachem Begin fought against the moral hypocrisy that denied the Jewish nation the same rights granted to others, including self-defense and sovereign equality in our homeland. In this spirit, NGO Monitor was founded to expose and end the double standards among powerful organizations that exploit the banners of human rights and democracy.”