Union of Agricultural Work Committees


The Union of Agricultural Work Committees is a Ramallah based Palestinian non-profit organization that was established in 1986 to improve the performance and professionalism of Palestinian farmers. The Union also aims to help Palestinian farmers market their produce and provides agricultural employment opportunities through a framework of cooperation with domestic, Arab, and international agricultural development institutions.
The UAWC was established in Jerusalem by a group of volunteer agronomists and development workers "loosely affiliated with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine ", it is one of the oldest Palestinian non-governmental organizations. In 1993, UAWC developed its organizational structure, consisting of a general assembly, board of trustees, general director, and two executive directors; one for the West Bank and one for the Gaza Strip.
UAWC initially focused on forming Agricultural Cooperatives and Committees in the different Palestinian rural areas of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
UAWC is a member of the Palestinian NGOs Network and supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign against Israel.

Funding

UAWC receives funding from numerous Western governments and aid organisations including the European Commission, World Vision Australia, AusAID, and FAO. UAWC is in partnership with many international and local organizations like Action Against Hunger, Oxfam, NARC and LRC.
In February 2012, Shurat HaDin, the Israel Law Center, alleged that World Vision Australia and AusAid were providing "financial aid to a Gaza-based terrorist group," the UAWC, which is a "front for terror group the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine." WV "suspended its dealings" with UAWC until the outcome of an investigation of the matter.
WV resumed working with UAWC after AusAID and World Vision found the allegations were unfounded. According to The Australian newspaper, 'AusAID has written to Shurat HaDin to confirm that a detailed investigation has been conducted into the claims and no evidence has been found to substantiate them'. However, the Jerusalem Post says that they conducted an independent investigation which "revealed that the PLFP’s Arabic language website includes detailed reports on the UAWC’s work."

Affiliate of PFLP

In his 1997 book Building a Palestinian State: The Incomplete Revolution, Professor Glenn E. Robinson writes in that agronomists that established the UAWC were loosely affiliated with the PFLP.
Researcher Caroline Abu-Sada also mentions that UAWC is affiliated to the PFLP in her book about another Palestinian agricultural organization .
According to Shurat HaDin of Israel Law Center, both unions, and the Union of Health Workers Committees are closely affiliated with the Palestinian Front for the Liberation of Palestine, an Arab nationalist organization responsible for numerous acts of terrorism dating back to the 1960s and a group that has long been regarded as a terrorist organization by the governments of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, European Union, and Israel. Shurat Hadin confirms that both groups receive money from Oxfam.
Oxfam Wereldwinkels Belgium has close ties since 2002 with the PFLP affiliate and met them at several occasions. They promote and sell their products to the Belgian market.
In 2020, the Dutch government suspended aid to the group after it was revealed they used subsidies to pay the salaries to suspected PFLP terrorists arrested for murdering 17-year-old Rina Shnerb.

Awards and honours