Re: [npoc-voice] Israeli Legislation Limiting Foreign Government Funding of NGOs Causes Stir

["Klaus Stoll" <klaus.stoll@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear Friends

So Israel is following the Ecuadorian model. NGO's all around the world are 
more and more in trouble. Question is if this particular piece of trouble is in 
the NPOC remit. maybe this has to be picket up by GKPF with NPOC as support.

Cheers

Klaus
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Alain Berranger 
  To: npoc-voice@xxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Wednesday, November 16, 2011 10:37 AM
  Subject: [npoc-voice] Israeli Legislation Limiting Foreign Government Funding 
of NGOs Causes Stir


  Dear NPOC Colleagues,


  FYI, Best, Alain


  Israeli Legislation Limiting Foreign Government Funding of NGOs Causes Stir

  A committee of Israeli cabinet ministers has voted to back two bills that 
would limit financial contributions to Israeli nonprofits by foreign 
governments, government-supported foundations, and multilateral groups, the New 
York Times reports. The Associated Press is reporting, however, that the bills 
have been put on hold after some cabinet ministers, the attorney general, and 
foreign governments all registered objections to the legislation.

  Last week, the committee — which includes ministers from Prime Minister 
Benjamin Netanyahu's center-right coalition government — voted eleven to five 
in favor of the bills, in what was widely viewed as an attempt to limit support 
for left-wing nonprofit groups, particularly those focused on Palestinian 
rights and civil liberties. Human rights organizations have denounced the 
legislation, which would levy a steep tax on and limit contributions from 
foreign groups to about $5,000 a year, as violations of free expression. 
According to the AP, an unnamed Israeli official said the bill will now be 
referred to the full cabinet for debate rather than proceeding directly to the 
Knesset for a vote. Legal experts said the bills likely would be altered before 
reaching the floor of the Knesset and ultimately could be struck down by the 
Israeli Supreme Court.

  According to a Netanyahu official, the prime minister supports efforts to 
limit donations from foreign sources but wanted the bills amended to have a 
narrower impact. Although the legislation would be less likely to affect 
right-wing groups, three prominent ministers from the prime minister's Likud 
party voted against the bills, which also have been opposed by NGO Monitor 
president Gerald Steinberg, who last year campaigned in favor of a law that 
requires Israeli nonprofits to file quarterly reports detailing financial 
contributions from foreign governments. Stein said he believed the new 
legislation would damage Israel's image and contribute to tensions with Europe, 
but added that he didn't think the bills would survive in any case.

  Not everyone agrees. Sari Bashi, director of Gisha, an Israeli NGO dedicated 
to promoting free movement for Palestinians in Gaza, expressed concerns that a 
watered down version of the bill would become law. "While it seems likely that 
some of the most anti-democratic aspects of the bills will be softened," Bashi 
told the Times, "that actually could make the situation worse, because it would 
define political speech in such a way as to silence some but not others and 
possibly allow the bills to become law."


  Bronner, Ethan. “Israeli Government Backs Limits on Financing for Nonprofit 
Groups.” New York Times 11/13/11.
  Teibel, Amy. “Bills to Cut Foreign Aid to Israeli Doves on Hold.”Associated 
Press 11/14/11.



  -- 
  Alain Berranger, B.Eng, MBA
  Member, Board of Directors, CECI, http://www.ceci.ca

  Executive-in-residence, Schulich School of Business, www.schulich.yorku.ca
  NA representative, Chasquinet Foundation, www.chasquinet.org
  interim Vice Chair, NPOC, NCSG, ICANN, http://npoc.org/
  O:+1 514 484 7824; M:+1 514 704 7824
  Skype: alain.berranger