TELL THESE BASTARDS WHERE TO GET OFF.
U.S., EU pressure Netanyahu to scrap proposed bill against Israeli NGOs
HAARETZ
The European Union and the United States, as well as other countries, have begun applying pressure on the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging that proposed legislation limiting funding by foreign governments of Israeli nonprofit organizations be scrapped.
The EU’s ambassador to Israel, Andrew Standley, contacted the prime minister’s national security adviser, Yaakov Amidror, on Thursday and warned him that passage of the legislation could harm Israel’s standing in the West as a democratic country.
The Ministerial Committee for Legislation will consider Likud’s version of the proposed law, sponsored by MK Ofir Akunis, on Sunday. It would bar political nonprofit organizations from receiving more than NIS 20,000 from foreign governments or international agencies such as the UN or the EU.
An explanation in support of the bill – which is also supported by Netanyahu himself – said it was necessary in light of what were called “acts of incitement by many organizations operating in the guise of human rights organizations that seek to influence political discourse, the character, and policy of the State of Israel.”
At the same time, Fania Kirshenbaum (Yisrael Beiteinu ) is sponsoring a similar bill that would require Israeli nonprofits that don’t receive Israeli government funding pay a 45 percent tax on all proceeds from foreign governments.
Diplomats posted here from three European countries said the two bills are prompting great concern within the EU. One diplomat said the bills are problematic both with regard to potential harm to the countries’ activities in Israel, and with regard to what he said was their anti-democratic character.
A diplomat familiar with the situation said that the EU’s Standley told Amidror that the proposed laws are viewed as an attempt to limit civil society activity in Israel, calling the proposals part of a wider disturbing development.
For his part, Amidror is said to have replied with a defense of the legislation, calling foreign funding of nonprofits interference in Israel’s internal affairs.
A senior Israeli official acknowledged that if the bills pass in their current form, they would cause a severe crisis with the EU. Standley has contacted all of the embassies in Israel that represent EU countries, urging them to register their own concerns regarding the legislation. EU ambassadors here are to meet on Tuesday to discuss the issue. The office of the EU in Israel has also approached the embassies of three non-EU countries – the United States, Canada and Norway – to coordinate the diplomatic response that Israel receives.
The embassies of Britain and the Netherlands, both countries that fund a number of left-wing organizations in Israel, have already begun to take action on the issue.
The British ambassador here, Matthew Gould, is said to have told Akunis that Britain supports the promotion of human rights in a large number of countries in an effort to advance universal values, and that the funding is not directed against the Israeli government.
In addition to individual EU countries, including Denmark, Belgium and Spain, as well as the U.K. and the Dutch government, the EU itself funds Israeli nonprofits. The United States and Canada do so too, and the American embassy has registered its own concern to the Prime Minister’s Office.
Fancy that: a ‘tariff’ — a 45% import duty, payable to GOI — on foreign contributions.
I can hear the gnashing of teeth already; hoo yeah.
How does that translate into real terms?
Who would be the arbiter of that?
The interference of a foreign government in political matters should not be tolerated. Money will be spent for influence peddling. However it should be tightly regulated. The American Ambassador and the United States State Department should be referred to the Foreign Agents Relation Act(FARA)which is presently the Law in the United States. FARA is far more stringent than the Israeli legislation. If what Israel is considering is undemocratic than the United States is undemocratic. I do NOT think that the United States is undemocratic. The Israeli government would do well to consider a Law based on the U.S. Foreign Agents Relation Act.
Good call Laura.
This is nothing more than anti-Semitism at it’s best. The US government and other European nations have no business or right to voice in Israel’s domestic affairs.
First and foremost a vast majority of Americans support Israel and recognize her as a sovereign Jewish nation, a true, trusted friend and ally of ours and the only one in the ME.
Israel deserves the same treatment and respect as our other allies.
Americans need to step up to the plate and voice their concern for Israel.
Make sure you vote and before you do make your congressman know you support Israel.
What is really undemocratic is foreign governments attempts to undermine the policies of the democratically elected Israeli government. What makes them believe they have the right to a voice in Israel’s domestic affairs? Europe is going to hell in a handbasket, it cannot solve its own numerous problems nor can the obama administration get America back on track. Yet they still obsess about Israel. You would think western governments would be too busy sorting out their own affairs. It’s time Israel turns the tables and starts funding pro-Israel organizations in the west to undermine European governments anti-Israel policies.
BB already is seeking to water down the two bills:
Netanyahu said Sunday that he wants to amend a number of clauses in each bill, which are likely to include raising the proposed cap for financial contributions and distinguishing between organization that specify in human rights from those viewed as having a purely political agenda. HaAretz
National Security advisor Yaakov Amidror tried to talk the ministers out of backing the bills. The Justice Ministry also stressed the bills were not constitutional.
Challenged by Culture and Sports Minister Limor Livnat about his attendance, Amidror noted that the European Union and the British ambassador had expressed their concern over the matter.
Livnat slammed leftist organizations for causing damage to the State of Israel and criticized Amidror for expressing his own opinion on the bill. Ynet
Now they are really saying that it’s not democratic to require transparency of funding from foreign governments. Seems that they make up their own rules on a ad hoc basis. One set of rules for themselves one set for everyone else and one set especially for Israel.
I only don’t understand why the $20,000 limit.
There should be no foreign interference not even $100
Good points.
Here’s what I wrote on the subject.
Who is being undemocratic? The Left or the Right?
Don Vito Corleone couldn’t have said it any better himself. The only thing missing is “I’m gonna make you an offer you can’t refuse”.
Not as a substitute but as an adjunct I suggest following:
1. Any organization receiving any foreign funding must publicly list its source and amount (in detail). The Israeli public should know exactly from were and from whom all monies are received.
2. Any organization receiving foreign money should be required to register as an agent of the foreign power. This is parallel to the requirement in the United States.
3. Any organization attempting to influence legislation and/or the election of candidates should lose any tax advantages or exemptions it may have.
4. Any organization making claims of atrocities or unlawful actions should be held to a strict legal accountability for libel and defamation. I am particularly dismayed about the many false and exaggerated claims that originated with “breaking the silence” B’tselem; human rights watch; etc.
In Iraq when US government funding was detected backing certain political organizations there was a national scandal. The same should be true of any country attempting to influence Israel’s political discourse.
I was very unhappy when Clinton dispatched his political team to influence the outcome of Israeli politics. This was an outrage and should have been denounced by all elements across the Israeli political spectrum. I am especially bothered with Tzipi Livini’s and Yossi Beilin’s activities in Europe and in the United States. What they say and urge government executives to do behind closed doors is certainly harmful to Israel and borders on subversion.
The elements that object to AIPAC are the same individuals and organizations who are attacking this legislation as “anti-democratic”.
Israel is not a Banana Republic. Israelis should be united in telling the European Union that any efforts for them to influence Israeli policy is forbidden as an undue intrusion on Israeli sovereignty. Just imagine the reverse, that Israel was spending covert money to undercut the current government in England, France, the United States, etc. Every anti-Semite in the world and every patriotic citizen of these countries would join in denouncing these Israeli actions.