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Netanyahu to limit foreign financial aid to Israeli non-profit organisations
The prime minister announces his support for a bill that puts a US$ 5,500 cap on financial aid to “political” NPOs from foreign governments and international organisations. Defining what is “political” is a problem. Another bill would place a 45 per cent tax on funds received by NPOs not supported by the State of Israel.
Jerusalem (AsiaNews) – A bill that would ban “political” Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs) from receiving funds from foreign governments and international organisations in excess of 20,000 shekels (about US$ 5,500) is coming before the Israeli cabinet.
Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu has announced that his support for a bill proposed by MK Ofir Akunis (Likud), which appears to be aimed at the organisations that provided information to the United Nations commission on operation ‘Cast Lead’ carried out by Israeli forces in Gaza between 27 December 2008 and 17 January 2009.
According to the bill, "inciting activity undertaken by many organisations, under the cover of human rights work, has the goal of influencing political debates, and the character and the policies of the state of Israel."
Sources close to the Knesset (Israeli parliament) told Haaretz that the proposal is unlikely to be endorsed by the High Court as it is now formulated. The main problem is the difficulty of legally defining an NPO's "political" activity.
Conversely, for Akunis, it “is a just, logical law that eliminates an anomalous situation in which foreign states intervene in Israel's political discourse via the conferral of money given in the form of donations to NPOs that pursue political goals." The lawmaker added, "The fact that a state such as England can donate money to a movement such as Peace Now is blatantly unfair. This is a law which will bring justice."
The ministerial committee will also decide whether to support another proposal stipulating that an NPO not supported by the State of Israel would have to pay taxes at a rate of 45 per cent on all revenue provided by a foreign government.