The European Union's Funding for Palestinian Human Rights Institutions and its Impact on Public Policy رسالة ماجستير

Abstract

The role of the European Union towards many regional and international issues is growing in an increasingly competitive manner, especially in the Palestinian territories as the main financier of the Palestinian National Authority and civil society institutions, especially human rights ones. This study aimed to identify the European Union's funding of Palestinian human rights institutions and its impact on public policy as well as the role of human rights organizations in the field of public policy, especially in developing aspects of the democratic transition process in Palestinian society. This goes through an analysis of the most important obstacles and challenges that limit the effectiveness of European financing towards the role of NGOs in the Palestinian society. Thus, this study came to shed light on the research problem represented in the lack of clarity of the impact of European Union funding for the programs and projects of Palestinian human rights institutions on public policy. Therefore, this study will contribute to answering the main question of the research, which is “What is the impact of EU funding of Palestinian human rights institutions on public policy?”. The researcher used the analytical description method, the historical method, and the comparative method, using the questionnaire, the personal interview, and the observation in describing and analysing the stages of development of human rights institutions and European funding for them since the Oslo agreement to the present day. In addition, it is done by tracking changes in the criteria and conditions of the European Union on funding, and for a better understanding of all participants from the public sector and institutions Civil society and independent experts. VI The researcher targeted the human rights and democracy institutions in the West Bank through the study sample, which consisted of (100) participants, including officials and employees, who were selected using a simple random sample (26) interviews were conducted targeting (13) participants from decision makers in government institutions, (8) officials in human rights institutions, and (3) experts in the field of human rights, and two interviews with representatives of the European Union office Jerusalem - the West Bank. It was concluded that the level of funding by the European Union for Palestinian human rights and democracy institutions was moderate, and it was found that the impact of funding objectives on public policy was moderate. Results showed that the management of European funding for human rights institutions internally and externally have affected Palestinian public policies. In other words, it affected supporting the values and concepts of democracy, strengthening political partnership, and directing the political awareness of society. Hence, the European financing policies have failed to achieve real sustainable development in the Palestinian society because it was politically motivated to revive the peace process. Still, it was found that Palestinian human rights organizations faced many difficulties and challenges that the most important of which are: the continuation of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, its repressive practices against the Palestinian people and all its governmental and non-governmental institutions, and the submission of European Union countries to American and Israeli conditions. During the preparation of this study, the researcher faced many difficulties, the most important of which was the lack of response of some respondents and their refusal to conduct an interview with them. VII In the light of the findings of the current study, the researcher made several recommendations, including the need to strengthen coordination and cooperation between public sector institutions, civil society and the private sector., it is imperative to create incentives for joint action and cooperation between the three sectors. Hence, it is important to develop civil society organizations plans based on a clear strategy that meets the needs and priorities of Palestinian society. Moreover, there is a need to assist non-governmental associations in diversifying and strengthening sources of self-financing through the establishment of special endowment projects, the proceeds of which go to support these organizations and ensure sustainability in their role, and to reduce their dependence on external funding. This contributes to ensuring the freedom, independence and effectiveness of the role of civil society organizations in pressure and influencing policies. Palestinian government towards priority issues in the Palestinian society