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Ministers back foreign funding bill
Attila Somfalvi
Published: 13.11.11, 15:28
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18 Talkbacks for this article
1. Wow must be on the right track
Gee ,   Zikron Yaakov   (11.13.11)
The leftists allow the EU and British ambassadors to comment on an internal Israeli matter but an Israeli citizen is not allow - especially a law that concerns his area of work. Some democracy. As for constitutional - since we don't have one - it is moot. The British have a similar but more restrictive law that what is proposed, interesting how it's acceptable for them to have such a law, but not us.
2. Foreign Funding Curuption
Joe Tango ,   USA   (11.13.11)
My one concern about this is that there is nothing to prevent some of these so-called human rights organizations that will receive international government funds from transferring some of those funds indirectly to these political groups to get around the law. How is that going to be addressed?
3. Good News!! Foreign governments will finally learn to
Jehudah Ben-Israel ,   Qatzrin, Israel   (11.13.11)
leave the Israeli public alone instead of trying to stick their noses in the internal debate and political activity in this sovereign liberal democratic nation-state of the Jewish people. We, Israelis, have had enough of you!!
4. Foreign funding
M.C.   (11.13.11)
At long last and not before time! The govenment is taking responsibility for foreign intervention. Israel is a soveriegn state and outside foces should have no influence over how Israel is governed. The days of the left wing elitists and lies are over and people everywhere need to recognize this The problem of course is the electoral system which is completely out of date and needs to be changed. It is the right only of citizens of Israel to vote for the government they want and for that government to be answerable to those who have put it in power and no one else. This is how we've got into such a political mess with too much interference and entgelement from egoistic outsiders and have allowed ourselves to be envegled into following a false peace process which will only lead to our destruction. The next law should be to change the electoral system!! and to make sure that the future government, has only the interests of the citizens of the country at heart and protects these interests.
5. Congrads Finally!
Ray ,   Germany   (11.13.11)
I'm going to cry!!! it's about time ... is Israel finally growing a pair of balls .... !
6. #2 no worries !
Michael ,   Haifa   (11.13.11)
Fascists are sufficiently single-minded to find solutions to little matters like that. There have been several fascist regimes, that solved the problem, by simply killing the recipients.
7. This bill is not designed to shut down B'Tselem
rebecca ,   Modiin   (11.13.11)
just to make it more Israeli. But if all funding for B'tselem and the likes comes from out of the country, well then they might have a problem. If the British and Europeans want to have a say in our country they can do so in their own name - not using underhand surrogate methods.
8. B'Tselem - what occupation? what occupied territories?
Larry ,   Or Yehuda   (11.13.11)
You know as well as everyone else that it is the Arabs occupying Israel. If you had said disputed territories, maybe it would be more logical.
9. @1, which Brit law?
Joe ,   St Louis USA   (11.13.11)
Can u please share a link or law name/number? I'd be most interested to see it. Thx.
10. The US bans this kind of funding so why not Israel
Zionist forever   (11.13.11)
I just don't get this argument about it being undemocratic when what we are talking about is wither taxing or limiting foreign donations to certain groups which in most cases is being used to try and help increase their political influence. The only reason the EU & the UK objects to this bill and says its undermining democracy is because they are the main funders of alot of these groups. The Geneva Accord which Meretz use as their campaign platform was funded by the EU. They financed and were involved in drafting it ( it wasn't dreamed up by Meretz alone ) and then they funded Meretz sending out flyers to Israeli homes explaining what it was all about. Whatever you think of the Geneva Accord is it right that the EU have not only drafted a policy for an Israeli political party to campaign on but they are funding it advertising in Israel aim to help Meretz. Why should unelected NGOS or foreign governments be allowed to fund political activist groups in Israel? If the EU & British want to object then let them, Israel is thankfully not a member of the EU and the British mandate ended a long time ago and their voice no longer has any relevance in this country so they can go to hell. PASS THIS BILL NOW BIBI AND DONT GIVE INTO INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE.
11. Great. But will the same go for the neo-cons?
Robert ,   NY USA   (11.13.11)
Who have not only damaged Israel, but re-ignited global anti-semitism. You share the same main goal as the left. You can't stand people worshipping G-d instead of you and your sick ideas of how things should be.
12. #4 foreign funds
sealift67 ,   northern calif   (11.13.11)
So in your democracy left wing 'elitists' should be stifled while right wing ideologues can remain unfettered. You gladly accept 'foreign funding' of 3BL US per annum and this has no aspect of 'influence. A bit self-serving, and moreso can Israel continue to be viewed as the sole 'democracy' in the region with stifled left wing dissent funded in part from outside? Democracy carries a price..opinions and policies promulgated and funded by those you may dislike. A democracy can never be 'destroyed' by dissent, eg opposing views regarding settlements, womens' rights, religious intolerance et al. Please tell me how a democracy may change its electoral system wherein "only the interests of the citizens of the country 'at heart.." defines this a priori and remains a democracy?
13. im very happy for this !!u made it possible awesome bibi !!!
joe ,   kfar saba israel   (11.13.11)
we have plenty of garbage talking bad nowaday lets dump the the garbage where it belongs to and they do not help at all great u are on time bibi
14. Joe #9 2nd attempt
Gee ,   Zikron Yaakov   (11.13.11)
3.2 Charities cannot have a political purpose A charity cannot be set up to pursue purposes which are party-political or aimed at a change in the law or Government policy (e.g., a charity could not be set up to campaign for a change in the law). However, as noted above, an organization which wanted to do this could always be set up as a non-charitable, not-for-profit organization and be free from the restrictions. It is also common to have a charity to carry out the charitable activities (and obtain the tax advantages) linked to a not-for-profit that carries out the political activities (e.g., Amnesty, Green Peace, Campaign against Arms Trade, etc.). It's available at the The International Journal of Not-for-Profit Law. Just google that and you will find out that funding NGOs for political purposes violates numerous European laws.
15. sealift67 #12 a few issues with your comments
Gee ,   Zikron Yaakov   (11.13.11)
First off - most of your aid is spent in America (80%) so the figure is really small here and the total amount is less than 1% of our GNP, whereas the NGOs foreign funding amount to more than 90% of their funding (see a difference between less than 1% and more than 90%?) Second American laws are far more restrictive than what our proposed law states. When are you changing your laws to be as liberal as ours? Yours then must be a fascist dictatorship in comparison to ours. The fact is that our current laws are far more liberal than ALL OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD.
16. If you throw a stone into a flock, the hit one will cry..
who cares   (11.14.11)
17. Is there any difference between Ynet and Ha'aretz anymore?
mzk ,   Haifa   (12.04.11)
Why not stop pretending and declare yourselves the official new outlet of Meretz.
18. B'TSelem is against the free will of majority of Israelis
Abraham ben Jaccob ,   Canada   (12.08.11)
" B'TSelem says 'won't be silenced until violations in Occupied Territories cease ".......... B'TSelem seems to have taken sides against the Majority of Israeli's...........seems they are over zealous in y\their attack on Israel's rightful pursuits and policies.
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