Justice Minister Shaked's 'transparency bill' passes second and third readings by a 57-48 vote; initial requirement for representatives of NGOs that receive foreign funding to wear identification tags dropped.
Associated Press, Reuters|Published: 12.07.16
The Knesset passed a controversial law Monday that increases the regulation of many Israeli human rights NGOs. The law was approved in the second and third readings by a vote of 57 to 48.
Called a "transparency bill" by its sponsor,
far-right Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, it will require NGOs to give details of overseas donations if more than half their funding comes from foreign governments or bodies such as the European Union.
In practice, the law will affect liberal groups almost exclusively because hawkish groups in Israel largely rely on donations from wealthy individuals, which are exempt.
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Opponents of the law argued that the Netanyahu government was trying to target liberal human rights organizations that are critical of Israel's policies toward the Palestinians.
MK Robert Ilatov of the hard-line nationalist Yisrael Beytenu party said he co-sponsored the law because "intervention in Israel's internal affairs is not acceptable."
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During a debate late Monday that lasted several hours, Israeli opposition lawmakers heaped criticism on the legislation even though it had been toned down.
Opposition MK Nachman Shai of the Zionist Union party said, "We will pay for this damage for many generations."
"The NGO law ... is indicative, more than anything, of the budding fascism creeping into Israeli society," opposition leader Isaac Herzog (Zionist Union) told reporters hours before the vote.
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Other opposition lawmakers compared the measure to authoritarian policies in Russia and Saudi Arabia.
The anti-settlement group Peace Now announced it will challenge the law at the Supreme Court.
"While the law will delegitimize left-wing organizations, pro-settler NGOs who receive millions of dollars in foreign donations without any transparency will remain unaffected," the group said in a statement.
"It is a law whose only aim is to silence and mark those who dare to voice criticism of the government or against settlements," it added.
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