Israel Matzav

Knesset panel to vote on limiting foreign funding to NGO's

A Knesset panel will vote on Sunday on two bills that would limit foreign funding of NGO's.

The first, submitted by MK Ofir Akunis (Likud), is an amendment to the NGO Law that would limit donations a “political NGO” can receive from foreign entities to NIS 20,000 a year.

The bill defines a political NGO as one for who changing the national and security agenda of the State of Israel is an objective, or an organization that undertakes diplomatic-like activities.

The bill would prohibit NGOs from receiving funding from states or international bodies like the UN or the EU.

According to its explanatory notes, groups that call themselves “human rights groups” are really operating to “influence the internal political discourse and the character and policies of the State of Israel.”

The second bill, by MK Faina Kirschenbaum (Israel Beiteinu), tackles the same matter from the taxation side. Rather than limiting the amount of funds allowed and having to define a political NGO, it aims to revoke the tax-free status of donations from foreign entities.

If passed, all funds from foreign countries, or international agencies, will be subject to a 45 percent tax.

In order not to harm all the NGOs, the bill provides an exemption to organizations that are also funded by the government.

Kirshenbaum's bill is really just leveling the playing field because - if I'm not mistaken - Israeli donations to NGO's are taxed at the NGO level (i.e. the NGO's have to pay taxes on them). But there's no reason Akunis' bill shouldn't pass as well. In the US, foreigners are barred from contributing to political campaigns (although it's quite likely the Obama 2008 campaign violated that rule). Why should it be any different in Israel? Why should our domestic political discourse be shaped by the Euroweenies?

Labels: European foreign aid, foreign activists, NGO funding

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:31 AM