Anti-NGO legislation becomes law
Under the new amendment to the law, political organizations in Israel could receive no more than NIS 600,000 in contributions from foreign donors, which will make up no more than a third of the total donations.
The V15 Law, an amendment to the Party Financing Law, passed its third and final reading in the Knesset on Monday and will allow stricter regulation of foreign donations made to Israeli NGOs.
The law, which passed its first Knesset reading in February, seeks to prevent inappropriate intervention in the elections for Knesset by outside, foreign players.
Under the amended version of the law, which was submitted by MK Yoav Kisch (Likud), an organization that is engaged in political activity even though it is not an actual political party will fall under the definition of a “body active in elections."
The amendment stipulates that such bodies will be required to report their funding sources to the State Comptroller, just as regular political parties are required to do, since the activities of such bodies are similar to those of political parties.
The law applies to organizations that "engage in political activity" by creating a voter database and keeping record of political leanings, directly appealing to voters with certain opinions in the three months prior to the election in an effort to influence their votes, or launching a publicity campaign during an election period aimed at influencing people to vote for or against a particular politicial party.
Contributions under NIS 100,000 ($27,000) will not have to be reported, while contributions between NIS 100,000 to NIS 400,000 ($110,000) will have to be reported to the state comptroller. Any contribution over NIS 400,000 will require the organization to be legally registered and employing an accountant and will be subject to stricter limitations.
Meanwhile, contributions from outside Israel can make up no more than a third of the total donations and cannot exceed NIS 600,000 ($166,000).
The law was named after V15, an organization that called to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, but did not support any particular party or candidate. V15, rebranded as 'Darkenu' (Our Way), was reportedly funded for the most part by organizations from the United States and Europe.
MK Kisch welcomed the passing of the law on Monday evening, saying, “This is a victory for a democracy that knows how to defend itself against corruption. We put a concrete barrier in front of those who attempt to buy power with money.”
MK Yoel Hasson (Zionist Union), meanwhile, criticized the amendment, saying its aim is to deter citizens from taking an active part in the public sphere. “This bill comes from a patronizing, tyrannical and hysteric place,” he said. “Its sole purpose is to deter the civic society from playing an active role in the political game.”
Hasson stressed that while he too wishes to promote transparency, this law does not serve this purpose, adding that it is mainly declarative and its only effect will be harming democratic rule in Israel.
“V15 wanted to replace the government, just like us. This is the essence of democracy,” he said.
(Translated & edited by Lior Mor)
