Israel to back Palestinian NGOs’ terror label through conviction of Spanish woman

The Spanish citizen was a fundraiser for one of the six NGOs but didn’t belong to any of them, and was unaware that the funds she raised had been transferred to the PFLP

Israel to back Palestinian NGOs' labelling as terror groups with conviction of Spanish woman (Haaretz)
The Israeli government intends to use a plea deal signed today with a Spanish citizen convicted of fundraising for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) to convince the global community of its designation of six Palestinian organisations as terror groups last month, political sources told Haaretz.

The Spanish citizen Juana Ruiz Rishwami, a fundraiser for the Health Work Committees (HWC), a Palestinian aid group not included in the six designated organisations, was convicted on charges that included activity in a proscribed organization and illicit money transfers.

According to the indictment against her, Rishwami "suspected that the organisation was acting on behalf of the Popular Front and despite this she continued to work in the organisation."

It was emphasised, however, that throughout the period of her work she was unaware that the funds she had raised had been transferred to the Popular Front.

European UNSC members press Israel for answers on NGO terror labelling (Jerusalem Post)
UNSC members Estonia, France, Ireland and Norway as well as Albania signed a statement asking Israel for information on NGO designations

A-G pressed to open criminal probe of Gantz over NGO terrorist label (Jerusalem Post)
Gantz’s action affected the freedom of movement and expression of those working in the NGOs, attorney Eitan Mack said in a letter to Attorney-General Avichai Mandelblit

Photo: Juana Ruiz Rishwami in custody, November 10 (Hagar Shezaf)