Olga Deutsch: Exposing the dark underbelly of human rights groups – interview

Olga Deutsch, Vice President of NGO Monitor, is set to become the organization's President and CEO in January, succeeding founder Prof. Gerald Steinberg. NGO Monitor, established in 2002, exposes the political influence and funding of human rights groups critical of Israel. Deutsch, who was evacuated to Israel twice from Yugoslavia/Serbia, has been with NGO Monitor for over a decade, initially heading its Europe department and later becoming Vice President.

“Our work can be very depressing because the types of things we monitor are the worst examples of terror affiliation, antisemitism, anti-Israel bias, discrimination, and incitement – all disguised as defending human rights.”

The organization's research has led to over $200 million in reduced governmental funding for NGOs found to be terror-affiliated or promoting anti-Israel agendas. Recent successes include influencing the US State Department's sanctions on Palestinian NGOs and the EU's post-October 7 decision to add an anti-incitement clause to contracts with Palestinian NGOs. Deutsch emphasizes the importance of their work in what she calls a "game of exhaustion and permanent survival" for Israel.