Israel Matzav

EU threatens Israel over NGO legislation

The European Union is threatening Prime Minister Netanyahu that Israel's 'standing' will be 'damaged' if a bill supported by Netanyahu passes the Knesset. The bill limits the amount of money that can be donated to NGO's by foreign governments or the United Nations to NIS 20,000 annually. As I have documented several times in the past, the Europeans are generous supporters of anti-Israel NGO's that attempt to change government policy. The Obama administration is also opposed to the bill. This is from the second link (Hat Tip: Memeorandum).

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.

Read the whole thing.

It's time to stand up to the Europeans. They would never tolerate the outside interference in their own legislative processes that they conduct in Israel.

On Friday, Caroline Glick reported that British Ambassador to Israel Matthew Gould issued similar threats to those issued by Standley.

This week the Knesset began deliberations on a bill that would prohibit foreign governments and international agencies from contributing more than NIS 20,000 to Israeli nongovernmental organizations. The bill was introduced by Likud MK Ofir Okunis with Netanyahu's support.

According to Haaretz, Gould issued a thinly veiled threat to Okunis related to the bill. Gould reportedly said that if the bill is passed, it would reflect badly on Israel in the international community.

Last month, Makor Rishon published a British government document titled, "NGOs in the Middle East Funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office."

The document showed that in 2010, outside of Iraq, the British government gave a total of £100,000 to pro-democracy NGOs throughout the Arab world.

In contrast to Britain's miserly attitude towards Arab civil society organizations, Her Majesty's Government gave more than £600,000 pounds to farleftist Israeli NGOs. These Israeli groups included the Economic Cooperation Foundation, Yesh Din, Peace Now, Ir Amim and Gisha. All of these groups are far beyond Israeli mainstream opinion.

All seek to use international pressure on Israel to force the government to adopt policies rejected by the vast majority of the public.

So for every pound Britain forked out to cultivate democracy in 20 Arab non-democracies, it spent £6 to undermine democracy in Israel - the region's only democracy.

And the British couldn't be more pleased with the return on their investment. Speaking to Parliament last year, Britain's Minister of Middle East Affairs Alistair Burt said the money has successfully changed Israeli policies. As he put it, "Since we began supporting these programs some significant changes have been made in the Israeli justice system, both civilian and military, and in the decisions they make. They have also raised a significant debate about these matters and we believe these activities will strengthen democracy in Israel."

In other words, as far as Britain is concerned, "strengthening democracy" in Israel means tipping the scales in favor of marginal groups with no noticeable domestic constituency.

Enough already! If these NGO's cannot be supported domestically they have no right to exist.

Labels: Binyamin Netanyahu, European Union, Matthew Gould, NGO's, Ofir Akunis

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:24 PM