In a recent podcast interview, Dr. Gerald Steinberg, founder and president of NGO Monitor, outlined how his group examines international non-governmental organizations and their part in promoting negative portrayals of Israel.

Steinberg explained that NGOs such as Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor, Save the Children, and the Norwegian Refugee Council often shape coverage in global media and United Nations reports by supplying claims that receive little independent checking.

He traced the origins of these campaigns to developments after 1948, noting the Soviet Union helped frame Zionism as a form of racism in international forums.

Steinberg pointed to the expansion of powerful NGOs in the 1990s and 2000s, describing how they gained tools to spread messages through worldwide outlets and UN discussions, frequently with staff holding clear political goals.

Examining the New York Times opinion piece

The discussion focused on a New York Times opinion article that accused Israel of sexual violence and drew on reports from several NGOs. Steinberg noted that material from groups like Euro-Med was used in a planned media push based on unverified accounts, a method he called mirror imaging in which Palestinian actions are flipped onto Israel to divert attention from Hamas atrocities.

He described the coordinated approach involving joint reports, media events, and online sharing to increase reach, including questionable claims such as the dog reference in the Kristof piece that spread before solid facts emerged.

Steinberg ended on a positive note, saying growing examination of NGO methods may reduce their sway over time, and he confirmed plans to step down from NGO Monitor leadership later this year while ensuring a smooth handover.