Norway

Profile

Country/TerritoryNorway

Activity

  • The Norwegian government, via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), provides tens of millions of kroner (NOK) through direct and indirect funding processes to politicized NGOs operating in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza.
  • According to Norway’s 2023-2024 proposed foreign aid budget, “Norwegian aid to Palestine does not go to Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, nor to organizations with the main purpose of promoting the BDS campaign (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions).” Yet, many Norwegian-funded NGOs are active in BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanctions) campaigns and promote anti-peace narratives and “lawfare” campaigns at the ICC. Some groups have also used antisemitic rhetoric and have apparent links to terror organizations.

Transparency

  • The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign affairs grant portal provides limited information on ongoing and new projects for the current year.
  • According to the new aid portal of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Due to anonymization of sensitive information, the portal may not show the correct information for individual partners.”
  • Previously funded and completed project information can be downloaded from the “Access to microdata” of the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation.

Direct Funding to Israeli/Palestinian Political NGOs

  • In 2023, the Norwegian government committed more than NOK 1.2 billion to a number of politicized non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that call for the end of Israel as a Jewish state, participate in the campaign labeling Israel as an apartheid state, and lobby for Israeli leaders to be tried at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
  • A number of the NGO grantees are linked to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) – a designated terrorist organization by the US, EU, Canada, and Israel.  In contrast to other funders, there is no indication that Norway has ended or suspended support for these NGOs.

Funding to Palestinian NGOs

  • In 2022-2024, Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR) received NOK 7 million from Norway.
    • According to a 1995 article in the Washington Report, Raji Sourani served “a three-year sentence [1979-1982] imposed by an Israeli court which convicted him of membership in the illegal Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine…” He was also denied a US entry visa in 2012.
    • In February 2014, the PFLP organized a ceremony in Gaza honoring Sourani for winning the “Alternative Noble (sic) Prize.”
    • On October 7, 2023, PCHR Fundraising and Program Officer Feda’a Murjan posted on Facebook, “We will truly step in our land. Allah, you are our protector and supporter.”
    • On May 13, 2023, in the context of the May 2023 conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), PCHR published a statement in which it  “affirms the right of the Palestinian people to resist the occupation by all available means, including armed struggle, all the way to achieve their legitimate rights, end the occupation and establish their independent state” (emphasis added). 
      • Following pressure from European donors, PCHR altered the text to read: “to resist the occupation by all legitimate means in accordance with international law.”
  • In 2023-2024, Al-Haq received NOK 7 million from Norway.
    • Al Haq is a leader in anti-Israel “lawfare” campaigns and BDS activities.
    • On October 22, 2021, the Israeli Ministry of Defense declared Al-Haq a “terror organization” because it is part of “a network of organizations” that operates “on behalf of the ‘Popular Front’.”
    • General Director Shawan Jabarin is allegedly linked to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a designated terrorist organization by the U.S., EU, and Canada. Click here to read NGO Monitor’s unofficial translation of the decision by the Israeli High Court of Justice.
    • Al-Haq officials have celebrated and defended the murder of Israeli civilians – including the October 7th massacre.
      • On October 10, Al-Haq Head of the Training and Capacity Building Unit Ziad Hmaidan wrote on Facebook, “It is written in the Hadith: ‘You must wage jihad. The best jihad is preparing for war, and it is best to prepare for war in Ashkelon’.”
      • On October 10, Al-Haq Legal Researcher and Advocacy Officer Ahmed Abofoul tweeted, “It is outrageous to call on Palestinian resistance (permitted by international law) to CEASE its attacks while asking the occupying power ONLY to respect IHL.”
  • In 2019-2023, Norway provided NOK 23.7 million to Redd Barna Norge (Save the Children Norway) for a project with Defense for Children International – Palestine (DCI-P), Palestinian Centre for Democracy and Conflict Resolution (PCDCR), and Ma’an News Agency.
    • Numerous individuals with alleged ties to the PFLP have been employed and appointed as board members at DCI-P. On October 22, 2021, the Israeli Ministry of Defense declared Defense for Children International – Palestine (DCI-P) a “terror organization” because it is part of “a network of organizations” that operates “on behalf of the ‘Popular Front’.” For more information on DCI-P’s PFLP ties, read NGO Monitor’s report “Defense for Children International – Palestine’s Ties to the PFLP Terror Group.” 
  • In 2022-2025, Ma’an Development Center received NOK 19.5 million from Norway.
    • In May 2018, Ma’an Development Center employee Ahmad Abdallah Aladini was killed in the violence on the Gaza border. Aladini was a “comrade” of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a terrorist organization designated as such by the USEUCanada, and Israel. According to the PFLP, Aladini was active against the “Zionist aggression on the Gaza Strip.”
      • On his Facebook page, Aladini posted PFLP propaganda, including images that glorify violence and terrorists. On May 7, 2018, Aladini posted a PFLP memorial notice for the death of six members of Hamas who were killed during the “crimes of the Zionist enemy.”
      • In June 2018, Hamza Zbeldat, Ma’an Field Coordinator in Ramallah, mourned the loss of a PFLP member, describing him as “my master” and as a person who “taught me.”
  • In 2022-2024, Miftah received NOK 7.9 million from Norway.
    • Utilizes anti-Israel and antisemitic rhetoric. Describes terror groups as “resistance fighters” and accuses Israel of perpetrating “massacres,” “cultural genocide,” and “war crimes.”
    • On October 27, 2023, in an interview for Democracy Now!, founder and chair of MIFTAH’s Board of Directors Hanan Ashrawi denied Hamas’ atrocities on October 7, calling accusations of massacres, rape, and beheading of children “nonsense.”
    • In March 2013, published an article written by Nawaf al-Zaru that repeated the antisemitic blood libel that Jews use Christian blood to bake Passover matzah.  After significant public criticism, MIFTAH removed the article, but attacked the blogger who exposed the article for “smearing” the organization and downplayed the centrality of the blood libel in the article. 
  • In 2022-2025, Norway granted NOK 10.5 million to the Independent Commission of Human Rights (ICHR).
    • ICHR regularly collaborates with and has demonstrated its support for EU, US, Canada and Israel-designated terror groups, such as Hamas, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).
    • In October 2024, ICHR was a signatory on a statement: “As the Israeli military aggression enters its second year on the occupied Palestinian territories, targeting mainly the Gaza Strip, the occupying power ‘Israel’ continues to commit the crime of multi-level genocide that affects all aspects of public life, with the aim of turning the Gaza Strip into an uninhabitable area, as part of the policy of ethnic engineering and the implementation of the displacement plan.”
  • In 2021-2023, Norway granted NOK 3 million to the Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center (JLAC).
    • JLAC is highly active in promoting BDS campaigns, lobbying international bodies, and utilizing highly inflammatory rhetoric.
    • In 2010, JLAC published the first edition of its book We Have Names, We Have a Homeland, which alleges that “brutality and sadism is the true face of Zionism and the State of occupation” and accuses Israel of “savage,” “abhorrent,” and “fascist” practices. The book continues to ask, “Has the history of humanity ever known such brutality as practiced at the hands of Israel…?”
  • In 2021-2022, Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counseling (WCLAC) received NOK 5.2 million.
    • Accused Israeli forces of “resorting to extra-judicial killing, mass intimidation and collective punishment in order to maintain their grip on Palestinian territory in violation of basic international norms.”
    • Supports BDS initiatives through participation in activities and events, signing of petitions and initiatives, and membership in BDS platforms.

Funding to Israeli NGOs

According to information submitted by Israeli NGOs to the Israeli Registrar of Non-Profits, the Embassy allocated NIS 7.5 million to Israeli NGOs from 2020-2023. According to the Norwegian MFA Grants Portal funding to Israeli NGOs is Categorized as “Middle East Regional.”

Indirect Funding

Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)

Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has been active in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza since 2009 and has offices in Jerusalem, Ramallah, Hebron, and Gaza. The organization employs 12 international staff and 106 national staff.

Norwegian People’s Aid-NPA (Norsk Folkehjelp)

  • In 2020-2024, NPA received NOK 65.5 million from Norway for “Civil Society influence for reduced inequality in Palestine” in partnership with the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC).
  • Played a central role in lobbying the Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global (GPFG) to divest from Israeli companies “involved in building activities in the illegal settlements,” promoting distorted factual and legal claims.
  • In April 2018, the US Department of Justice fined NPA $11 million for civil fraud. NPA was charged with violating the US False Claims Act for providing material support to Iran and Palestinian terror groups, Hamas, the PFLP, and the DFLP. According to Manhattan US Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman:  “For years, Norwegian People’s Aid obtained grant money from USAID by falsely representing that it had not provided, and would take reasonable steps to ensure that it did not knowingly provide, material support to prohibited parties under U.S. law.”
  • In September 2019, NPA, alongside the Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees (UPWC), organized a conference with the PFLP’s Kaid Al-Ghul who spoke about “his experience in political work since joining the Arab nationalist movement in 1967 when he was 17 years old, during which he was active in the vanguard of popular resistance.” 

Norwegian Church Aid-NCA (Kirkens Nødhjelp)

  • In 2020-2024, Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) received NOK 37.4 million for projects with a number of problematic partners in the “Palestinian territories.” 
  • In 2020-2024, NCA received an “Additional funding for GAZA” of NOK 15 million
  • In 2020-2024, the Norwegian government committed NOK 11.4 million to EAPPI via NCA.
    • Founded by the World Council of Churches, EAPPI sends volunteers to the West Bank to “witness life under occupation.” Upon completion of the program, the volunteers return to their home countries and churches where many engage in anti-Israel advocacy, including advocating for BDS campaigns in churches, comparing Israel to apartheid South Africa and Nazi Germany, and other delegitimization strategies.
    • EAPPI volunteers have used inflammatory, demonizing, and antisemitic rhetoric against Israel.
  • In 2020-2024, the Norwegian government committed NOK 39.7 million to DanChurchAid via NCA.

KFUK-KFUM Global

Who Profits

  • According to the Israeli Registrar of Non-Profits, in 2019-2020, Who Profits received NIS 79,000 from the Fagforbundet (Norwegian Municipal Union).
  • Initiates international BDS campaigns, targeting Israeli and foreign banks, security companies, civil infrastructure facilities, and private companies. Also identifies companies for other BDS activists to target.

Direct Norwegian Funding to NGOs Active in the Arab-Israeli Conflict

Israeli NGO amounts based on quarterly financial reports submitted to the Israeli Registrar of Non-Profits. Palestinian NGO amounts based on the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign affairs grant portal. Amounts in NIS unless noted. 

Organization2024202320222021202020192018
Akevot153,545202,248216,284
7amleh168,802139,532
Al-HaqNOK 3.6 millionNOK 3.5 million
AMAN CoalitionNOK 5 millionNOK 5 millionNOK 6 millionNOK 4.8 millionNOK 4.6 million
Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI)217,497208,658218,494219,956110,000200,000
B'Tselem3147,406542,849198,771308,000341,000
Emek Shaveh208,658216,855219,955
Gaza Community Mental Health ProgrammeNOK 5 millionNOK 5 millionNOK 2 millionNOK 2 millionNOK 2.3 million
Gisha419,060417,225438,727238,131390,000
HaMoked14,000
Hebron Rehabilitation CommitteeNOK 2.6 millionNOK 1.4 millionNOK 2 millionNOK 1.5 millionNOK 2.3 million
Human Rights Defenders Fund36,94987,40839,13826,00080,000
Independent Commission for Human RightsNOK 4 millionNOK 4 millionNOK 8.7 million
Ir Amim915,778876,3651,345,057436,000
Jerusalem Legal Aid and Human Rights Center (JLAC)NOK 865,000NOK 1 millionNOK 1.1 million
Ma’an Development CenterNOK 10 millionNOK 2 millionNOK 3 millionNOK 3.7 millionNOK 2.3 millionNOK 1.2 million
MiftahNOK 2.5 millionNOK 2.5 millionNOK 2 millionNOK 2.5 millionNOK 3 million
Palestinian Center for Human RightsNOK 2.3 millionNOK 2.4 millionNOK 1.5 millionNOK 3.6 millionNOK 1.8 million
Peace Now307,576347,880192,495303,000
Redd Barna Norge (project with Defense for Children International - Palestine (DCI-P), Palestinian Centre for Democracy and Conflict Resolution (PCDCR), and Ma’an News Agency)NOK 484,221NOK 3,578,484NOK 4,368,290
Women's Centre for Legal Aid and CounselingNOK 2.6 millionNOK 2.6 million
Yesh Din936,061158,349341,204307,587398,540186,552354,000

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