Israeli bill targeting leftwing NGOs passes first hurdle

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

Israeli bill targeting leftwing NGOs passes first hurdle

Proposed legislation to make groups who campaign largely on Palestinian issues
declare funding from foreign governments passes first reading in parliament

Peter Beaumont
Tuesday 9 February 2016 10.30 GMT

An Israeli bill targeting groups that campaign largely on Palestinian human rights issues has overcome its first hurdle in the process to become law.

The proposed legislation, which would compel NGOs receiving most of their funding from foreign governments to declare it in official reports, passed its first reading in the Israeli parliament by 50 votes to 43 on Tuesday.

The legislation has been criticised as it would only affect leftwing Israeli organisations, many of which are funded by EU countries, and not rightwing NGOs, which are supported by private donations from wealthy supporters of Israel. MPs who oppose the legislation described it as “political persecution” and an erosion of Israeli democracy.

The opposition leader, Isaac Herzog, said the law would damage Israel’s standing among its friends abroad. Last month, the US ambassador to Israel, Dan Shapiro, said: “Governments must protect free expression and peaceful dissent and create an atmosphere where all voices can be heard.”

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Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/09/israeli-bill-pro-palestinian-rights-groups-parliament

[Little Tich]

1. 50 European MPs slam NGO bill as ‘inherently discriminatory’

Source: Times of Israel

Legislation passes first reading; raked over coals by EU lawmakers, Human Rights Watch

roup of 50 European lawmakers on Monday called on their Israeli colleagues to reject the so-called NGO bill, arguing that it is “inherently discriminatory” and could hurt efforts to reach a peace agreement with the Palestinians.

The controversial legislation, which has been criticized by European and American officials, passed in its first reading Monday night.

“We write to you as Members of the European Parliament, who are committed to values of democracy, human rights, and freedom of expression, to convey our deep concern at the proposed ‘NGO Bill’,” the 50 members of the European Parliament wrote in an open letters addressed to Israeli MKs.

“We support transparency in the conduct of public affairs in any democracy. However, we are concerned that this law is inherently discriminatory. It is framed in a manner that delegitimises and demonises NGOs who promote and defend human rights, as well as the European states and institutions that fund them.”

Read more: http://www.timesofisrael.com/european-mps-slam-ngo-bill-as-inherently-discriminatory/

[Little Tich]

2. Lately, the Israeli government has skirted very close to a few red lines for what's OK for a

democracy.

Hopefully, Netanyahu has a few good friends left who will be able to dissuade him from eroding Israel's democracy further.

[Israeli]

3. I would not bet on that if ....

....I were you Little Tich.

ref : " Hopefully, Netanyahu has a few good friends left who will be able to dissuade him from eroding Israel's democracy further."