21 February 2005:
Monitoring Oxfam GB Recruitment for Position to
"Strengthen Links with Israeli Civil Society"
Oxfam GB has announced a vacancy for a research assistant whose job will be
to "maintain and strengthen links with Israeli Civil Society
Organisations". In addition to this ambiguous description (resulting from
the inherent ambiguity of the concept of "civil society
organisations", the announcement also includes requirements for someone
who is "enthusiastic and committed to OGB's goals" and a "desire
to bring about regional peace".
As a registered charity whose ostensible primary goal
is humanitarian assistance, rather than the complex and often ideological
agenda of "peace making", this vacancy description, in itself,
further reinforces the questions regarding Oxfam GB's activities in the region.
Furthermore, based on NGO Monitor's
analysis of Oxfam's record of highly partisan political activities in the
Arab-Israeli context, the suggestion from this advertisement is that such
activities are likely to be part of this position. NGO Monitor's analyses have
highlighted Oxfam's political condemnations of Israel, the tendency towards silence
on human rights abuses committed by Palestinians, including the use of children
for acts of terror (Abuse
of Palestinian Children - NGO Monitor March 2004), and the failure to
condemn Palestinian suicide bombings (Majority of
International and Palestinian NGO's Fail to Condemn Jerusalem Suicide Bombing -
NGO Monitor Feb. 2004). In addition Oxfam GB has actively
campaigned against Israel's Gaza disengagement plan.
The emphasis on involvement in Israeli "civil society
organisations" also suggests further involvement in the democracy deficit
that is characteristic of the activities of highly politicized NGOs in the
context of open and pluralistic societies. Support for selected ideological or
political "favorites" outside the democratic process constitutes a
basic infringement on this process, and should not be the policy of responsible
charitable NGOs, such as Oxfam GB.
As a result of these concerns, Oxfam's selection process must be subject to
independent monitoring, with a high degree of transparency. Selection of a
candidate on the basis of his or her ideological and political views regarding
the Arab-Israeli conflict would be unethical and inconsistent with Oxfam GB's
declared charitable and humanitarian objectives. In addition, following the
selection process, the activities of the person chosen to fill this position,
and the interaction with the highly selective representatives of Israeli
"civil society" must also be monitored carefully. Direct involvement
in the ideological and political dimensions of the Arab-Israeli conflict will
be a further indication of systematic digression from Oxfam GB's claimed
charitable objectives, and will constitute unethical interference in the
democratic process.
February 18 2005
Oxfam Vacancy Announcement
Oxfam GB is an international, non-governmental, relief and development
organisation registered as a charity in the UK, and working worldwide to
address issues of social vulnerability and poverty. Oxfam GB (0GB) is now
seeking to recruit a Civil Society Research Assistant.
Duty Station: Jerusalem
Duration of Project: Six months initially.
Key Responsibilities:
Qualifications:
Interested candidates, please send your C.V. along with a cover letter,
detailing relevant experience to fax number: 02-6566236 or via e-mail to mjoulani@0xfam.org.uk.
Detailed Job Description can be obtained by Email. The closing date for
applications is February 27,2005.
Only short-listed candidates will be notified.