USAID Sent $300 Million to Norwegian People’s Aid Despite Admission of Terrorism Ties
Despite Settling Lawsuit for Terrorism Support, Norwegian People’s Aid Continued Receiving U.S. Taxpayer Funds
Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) claims to be a "politically independent", BUT NOT POLITICALLY NEUTRAL, it is a membership-based organization working to “improve people's living conditions and create a democratic, just, and safe society”. But is this truly the case?
In 2018, NPA settled a lawsuit in U.S. federal court for providing material support to terrorism. Despite admitting to these charges and paying a hefty settlement, NPA continues to receive substantial funding from governments worldwide, including Norway, USAID, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the European Union, Japan and others.
In April 2018, NPA agreed to pay $2.025 million to settle charges under the US False Claims Act. The lawsuit revealed that NPA had falsely represented its activities to secure USAID funding, all while providing material support to banned organizations such as Iran, Hamas, and the PFLP.
The Manhattan US Attorney at the time, Geoffrey S. Berman, condemned NPA’s deceptive practices in misrepresenting their actions to the US government.
“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.”
Shockingly, despite this serious breach of law, both Norway who provided $55 million, in 2018 alone, and USAID continued to be NPA’s top donors, fueling its operations with millions each year. In fact, NPA receives over $100 million annually from various countries, including the U.S., which continues to provide support through USAID even after the organization admitted to facilitating terrorism.
A recent Washington Examiner analysis revealed that USAID has funneled a staggering $300 million into NPA since 2008. Given these revelations, the continuing financial backing raises alarms about the alignment of US funding with national security and anti-terrorism policies. How can USAID continued funding, with hundreds of millions of dollars, an NGO who openly admitted to giving material support to terrorism?
NGO Monitor President and founder Prof Gerald M Steinberg told the Washington Examiner,
"the problem with the pro-BDS group funding is simple: it conflicts with the interests and goals of the U.S"
NPA's controversial activities extend beyond financial misconduct and material support to terrorism. NPA is a leader and mobilizer of anti-Israel BDS campaigns and demonization of the State of Israel.
In addition, the organization has hosted Al-Haq General Director Shawan Jabarin, who has alleged ties to the PFLP terrorist organization. Additionally, NPA has sponsored events where maps of Israel were erased and replaced by "Palestine," further promoting a biased and inflammatory narrative and other "Youth Programs" affiliated with Hamas.
The head of NPA’s board of trustees, Finn Erik Thoresen, has also spread conspiracies, including the discredited claim that Palestinians are forced to use red roof tiles to make their homes easier targets for Israeli bombers. Taxpayers should not continue tolerating their countries using their taxes to fund NGOs with ties to terrorism or radical ideologies. It is imperative to scrutinize the flow of funds to organizations like NPA to prevent taxpayer money from indirectly supporting such groups. The need for stringent oversight and ensuring that funding aligns with anti-terrorism policies is crucial in maintaining the integrity of international aid programs.
USAID, through its funding to Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), alongside Norway’s support, has been linked to events where maps of Israel were deliberately erased and replaced with "Palestine." These events, organized by NPA, promote a biased and inflammatory narrative that seeks to delegitimize the State of Israel. By sponsoring such events, NPA not only fosters anti-Israel sentiment but also spreads harmful political ideologies that undermine the peace process. Despite this, USAID continues to fund NPA, raising serious questions about the alignment of US taxpayer dollars with efforts that fuel division and conflict rather than supporting a peaceful resolution.
Now, with the recent shutdown of USAID and an executive order from President Trump directing the auditing of all NGOs that depend on US aid, it’s time for urgent action. A newly established task force must investigate how and why an organization like NPA—one that has openly admitted in court to funding terrorism—has continued to receive U.S. taxpayer money.
It is infuriating and reckless that a group with documented ties to terrorist organizations, including its leadership’s support for anti-Israel BDS campaigns and radical narratives, is still being funded. NPA has hosted controversial figures like Shawan Jabarin, whose alleged ties to the PFLP terrorist group should never be ignored. The organization has also been known to sponsor events promoting a one-sided, biased view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and even propagating the baseless claim that Palestinians are forced to use red roof tiles to become targets for Israeli bombers.
Taxpayers should not stand idly by while their money is being used to fund groups with direct links to terrorism and radical ideologies. It’s time for the task force to fully investigate the flow of funds to organizations like NPA and put an end to these egregious funding practices. It is crucial to ensure that all international aid is in line with anti-terrorism policies, protecting both national security and the integrity of global humanitarian efforts.
How come the article don't mention the founding to NPA being used in mine clearence, mainly clearing landmines and explosives in areas the US has bombed?