Illegitimate Transfer of Inalienable European Rights via Convention(s) & Supranational Bodies Establishment of Sovereignty-Usurping Supranational Body Dictatorships Enduring Program of DEMOGRAPHICS WAR on Europeans Enduring Program of PSYCHOLOGICAL WAR on Europeans Enduring Program of European Displacement, Dismemberment, Dispossession, & Dissolution
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U.S. RULING OLIGARCHY WAGES HYBRID WAR TO SALVAGE HEGEMONY [LINK | Article]
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Likud MK seeks to label foreign-funded NGOs as 'plants'
MK Yoav Kisch introduces a bill that aims to curtail nongovernmental organizations funded mostly by foreign governments, as they "represent foreign political interests," use funds to promote anti-Israel propaganda • "We have to put a stop to it," he says.
Gideon Allon and Israel Hayom Staff
Likud MK Yoav Kisch on Sunday introduced a legislation proposal seeking to label nongovernmental organizations operating in Israel while receiving the majority of their funding from foreign governments as "plants" or "agents" of the governments funding them.
The bill seeks to impose stricter record keeping and reporting guideline on such NGOs, and bar them from fostering collaborations with government ministries and the military, unless specifically authorized by the Justice Ministry.
The bill's abstract further says the legislation seeks to allow both the "proper authorities and the public with tools to counter the erosion of democracy and the promotion of and internal delegitimization of the State of Israel, funded by foreign political entities."
The proposal suggests any infringement by NGOs on the new guidelines will incur a 100,000 shekel ($26,000) fine, and that should any group be linked "to hostile activities, the Registrar of Associations will be able to petition the court for its dissolution."
Kisch's legislation proposal states, "There are various associations operating in the State of Israel that receive support and funding from foreign political entities, making them 'plants' in the midst of Israeli society. These groupers effectively represent foreign political interests, as he who has the money has the final say.
"There is a clear phenomenon in Israel by which these foreign interests undermine Israel's ability to defend itself and/or jeopardizes its Jewish and democratic character. While these associations promote foreign interests they still qualify for various exemptions, despite the fact the Israeli public is harmed, directly, by their actions," the bill said.
"A democracy has to be able to defend itself," Kisch explained. "It's inconceivable that foreign-funded NGOs use those funds to spread lies and anti-Israel propaganda worldwide.
"We will not allow foreign funding of this nature to attack Israeli soldiers, urge boycotts against Israel, and supporting terrorism or enemy statesunder the guise of a legitimate Israeli association. We have to put a stop to it," he said.
The controversial non-profit bill that got the backing of a ministerial panel on Sunday will remain a subject of heated debate but is expected to pass in some form.
Haaretz Dec 27, 2015 4:33 PM
A bill that would require non-profit organizations that get more than half their funding from foreign governments to disclose that in various contexts passed a major legislative hurdle on Sunday. It received the backing of the Ministerial Committee for Legislation. Approval by the committee means that it now has the backing of the governing coalition, making it likely that it will pass in some form, although it could be subject to changes before final passage.
Sponsored byJustice Minister Ayelet Shaked of the Habayit Hayehudi party, the bill is widely seen as an effort to draw attention to left-wing organizations that get funding from foreign governments. The activities of left-wing organizations have been in the headlines recently in part over funding some of them receive from foreign governments, notably European ones, a situation that critics call an improper effort by the governments to influence the Israeli public agenda. Opponents of the legislation call it an anti-democraticattempt to stigmatize left-wing groups and point out that right-wing Israeli non-profit organizations also get substantial funding from abroad, although that money is not from foreign governments, coming instead from individual donors abroad, notably from Diaspora Jewish donors.
As currently drafted, the bill proposed by Shaked would require representatives of organizations receiving over half their support from foreign governments to wear tags with the name and the group they represent when they attend Knesset sessions,as is currently required of Knesset lobbyists. Violations of the law would be punished by barring the representatives' access to the Knesset. The bill would also require the groups to disclose in their official publicity that they get more than half their funds from foreign governments, along with disclosing the donor governments by name. Violations of this provision would be subject to a 29,000 shekel ($7,450) fine.
"Any country wishing to protect its sovereignty must put limits on intervention by foreign entities,"Shaked said, adding that false information spread by non-profit groups "pretending to represent Israel's interests but which actually are financed by foreign countries that exploit these groups to suit their agenda" constitute a weapon directed against Israel.
But for his part, Zionist Union party leader Isaac Herzogcalled the bill "a serious stain on democracy," while his party colleague Nachman Shai warned that it would provide "ammunition to those calling for Israel's isolation."
At the beginning of the month, four senior lawmakers from Germany warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that advancement of the legislation would make it harder for Israel's allies in Germany to aid it in the face of boycotts or attempts to delegitimize it.
Tzipi Livni, who is co-leader of the Zionist Union along with Herzog, has submitted her own bill that would require disclosure by non-profits that get sizeable foreign government support but also require groups that depend upon individual donors from abroad to disclose it, in practice also imposing legislative regulation on right-wing groups. Justice Minister Shaked's office said including recipients of contributions from individual donors from abroad was considered but was not pursued because of legal hurdles that it presented.
Im Tirtzu vs. Breaking the Silence
The right-wing political group Im Tirtzu recently made headlines for a video it released stigmatizing leaders of left-wing organizations that it said received substantial foreign government funding as foreign "moles."
Breaking the Silence, a group founded by Israel Defense Force veterans to expose misconduct by the Israeli army in the territories, has been a particular focus of public criticism. Representatives of the group have been barred by Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon from sending representatives onto army bases and by Education Minister Naftali Bennett from appearing in the country's public schools. The Breaking the Silence website states that among the financial support that it receives are funds from the governments of Norway, Spain and Switzerland as well as a number of foreign private foundations.
Prior to the vote in the ministerial committee, Michael Oren, who is a former Israeli ambassador to the United States and is now member of the Knesset from the Kulanu party, which is a part of the governing coalition, said he could not vote in favor of the bill as currently drafted.
"As someone who has worked his entire life to advance the State of Israel's foreign affairs, my conscience does not allow me to vote for the non-profits bill as it is drafted today." Oren said. "The non-profits bill that is reaching a vote at the Ministerial Committee for Legislation today is a bill that could harm Israel's foreign relations and image," he added. "I have no doubt that left-wing non-profits such as Breaking the Silence are working to undermine the legitimacy of the State of Israel, and it is our duty as lawmakers to reveal their funding sources to the public. But such one-sided exposure, which ignores the funding sources of extreme-right non-profits, might play exactly into the hands of those elements that are trying to boycott us," Oren said.
Summary (Parliament) Knesset lobbyists to wear name tags with name of group they represent NGOS receiving over half their support from foreign govts to wear name tags with name of govt they receive funding from
violations result in barred access to parliament (Knesset) & in monetary fines
right-wing groups receving money from individual donors abroad are exempt from same standard
Breaking the Silence group founded by IDF veterans (donors include Norway, Spain & Switzerland govts) expose misconduct of IDF
*barred from sending representatives to army bases
*barred from appearing at Israel's public schools
legislation will be targeted by BDS campaigners German law-makers already notified Israel difficult to defend
COMMENT
The above video clip of Palestinians being beaten by Israeli soldiers is pretty sickening to watch. After the initial viewing, I couldn't view again.
I've seen other things (eg. IDF soldiers beating up an old Palestinian man about to have his house demolished, and an IDF soldier striking an old woman), so it's not like this is an aberration. And the bet is that what I've seen is just a fraction of the brutality.
Also, I tend to avoid looking at what is happening in territories occupied by Israel, because I can't handle the dissonance. The image I have of Israel is of its ancient history, its Temple, its songs and things that are pleasant ... seeing old people getting beaten ruins that.
It's very unpleasant to see this kind of brutality, and it's impossible not to be appalled and sorry for the Palestinians that are being mistreated.
Norway, Spain or Switzerland government funding of Israeli NGOs is far less of a potential 'de-legitimiser' of Israel than what the IDF have been caught doing to civilians in Palestine.
For a country that has so many pro-Israel interest groups abroad lobbying other governments on its behalf, and for a country whose organisations are involved in, basically, a program of indoctrinating Western journalists and politicians by hosting 'educational' visits to Israel (including an Israeli hospital where Israel's been patching up Syrian 'rebels' - ie anti-Syrian government Islamists), it's somewhat hypocritical of Israel to put up barriers to NGOs that receive funding from other government organisations (while shielding Israel's right-wing NGOs from being subject to the similar measures).
But Israel can always be counted on to do the rational thing: ie. to act in its own interests and in pursuit of its own aims.
In an ideal world, this is how one handles foreign interests potentially asserting influence on internal affairs, and this is how one handles fifth column elements within one's state.
But, as mentioned in the article, this will be something the BDS campaigners might wish to exploit, especially considering Israel's strong reliance on representing itself as a democracy.
I highly doubt that the governments of Norway, Spain and Switzerland are actually seeking to undermine or de-legitimise Israel in any way, but the intention isn't relevant if the result is seen as the undermining of Israel's interests and aims.
This is a brilliant move on Israel's part to de-legitimise, diminish and silence leftist internal critics -- particularly critics of Israel's military (and occupation territory settlements, I'm guessing).