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Livni on foreign funding bill: Gov't trying to silence citizens
Omri Efraim
Published: 13.11.11, 17:50
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54 Talkbacks for this article
1. Foreign intervention in Israel democracy.
Ariely ,   Jerusalem Israel   (11.13.11)
What some Israeli political movements that failed to get the public support in the democratic election are doing? They are trying to impose their agenda by foreign intervention. They are active abroad in anti Israeli groups, sometimes they are the leading activists. European groups are trying to influence Israelis opinion by funding the activity of Israeli NGO's. This is not democracy! (To make a case – let's assume that Israel will heavily fund the supporters of Independence Scottish movement, the vive le QuebecFrance or the Bask independence - what will be the EU reaction?
2. livni
marcel   (11.13.11)
concessions, try to be in the good graces of obama who is a moslem in his childhood, appease europe which is a continent of cowards afraid of their own moslems, advocate painful concessions without recriprocal demands-this is livni, yossi beilin's sister and olmert's twin. Does livni see herself? The haaretz readers and writers, if you look at really what they are writing about it is guilt about setting up a jewish state in the first place, absolute fear of livining in the midst of arabs and doubt about defense. You know why 6 million died in the holocaust. it was not only because of the nazis. it is the livni strain of jews who doubt, who are afraid, who beg thre US. They are pathetic. I raised my children to be self confident, physically able and to look for a baalanced deal. Livni is the scared princess of dizengoff. The arabs will not make peace if you give them tel aviv. They want post 48 jews out and the rest to live like dzimmis to run and beg tantawi if its ok to eat breakfast.The jews I can ony conclude are sick.
3. what is wrong with paying taxes?
Israel Israeli ,   Tel Aviv   (11.13.11)
There are hundreds of NGO employees who are paid very generous salaries by foreign countries to promote their masters' interests. These are not "concerned citizens", but paid lobbyists and agents. All Israeli citizens get services like health, police and schools. If a teacher who earns 10000 NIS or a guard who earns 6000 NIS have to pay taxes, why shouldn't a foreign-funded lobbyist earning 50000 NIS pay taxes?
4. The anti-Semitic pro-arab leftists seek to destroy Israel
Bunnie Meyer ,   Los Angeles, CA USA   (11.13.11)
from within and they need to be fully exposed and taxed.
5. PRIDE AND SELFRESPECT ?
DAVID ,   JUDEA   (11.13.11)
Hopefully we are witnessing a miracle were our government starts taking on, these corrupt enemies within. Any self respecting nation would have done something a long time ago. These so-called NGO are just storefronts in order to destroy us and establish a Atheist Anarchy here.
6. errm... quite good point #1... a question...
eporue ,   europe   (11.13.11)
are political parties permitted to receive foreign funding ? if so, up to what amount and is it (partially) tax-free ?
7. # 3, i think its because they dont aim on making profit...
eporue ,   europe   (11.13.11)
companies, or other organisations with such an approach are usually tax free... one is not supposed to tax money a thousand times, just because its there... only "generated" money is taxed... exemptions can apply in inheritance cases in some countries, but its (imo) not fair...
8. sorry, mean "exceptions"
eporue ,   europe   (11.13.11)
9. What I see
Pedro ,   Brazil   (11.13.11)
In Brazilians newspapers I see a lot of people working hard to post comments against Israel and Jewish people. They are ready to distort any news from Middle East. They post unbelievable lies, only with aim to hurt Israel image..
10. Bad news for YNet ?
Ben Zion   (11.13.11)
11. The left is attempting to silence us
Gee ,   Zikron Yaakov   (11.13.11)
Nobody is imposing any sort of curtailment of their rights in anyway whatsoever. They still have the same rights they had before, just not as much money to do it with. Maybe the lazy leftists in Tel Aviv might actually have to get a real job. Oh well that is not a right to live off of foreign governments as they attempt to subvert the elected government. I think that the tax should be at least 90%.
12. Balanced reporting?
Doug ,   U.S.   (11.13.11)
Putting this together with your "front page story" on the military base explosion in Iran, which rests on no other authority than Richard Silverstein's blog, I say that your English news section has a noticeable leftist agenda. The only thing worth noting in this report is what anti-Netanyahu figures had to say on the subject? Oh, wait, you quoted Yossi Peled at the very bottom of the article.
13. The traitorous leftists' should be silenced!
Jake Stone ,   USA   (11.13.11)
God bless Israel!
14. The Folly of Leftism
Brod ,   USA   (11.13.11)
Those who defend foreign funding of Leftist activities in undermining the government and the Land of Israel are not true Jews. True Jews worship the GOD of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and they know the Land of Israel is GOD-GIVEN and GOD-RESTORED to the Nation of Israel as a Fulfillment of GOD'S Covenant with Israel. The government is right in stopping the flow of foreign money to groups who are being manipulated by these external entities that are anti-Israel.
15. Democracy?
Abraham Nachmias ,   Petach Tikva IL   (11.13.11)
Maybe I am stupid, but as far as I know, democracy is a regime where everybody is free to have a free opinion and the government is elected by majorities. What's the connection with limiting foreign countries to intervene in internal business of our country? This people are not worried about democracy, they are worried about their salaries! Shame on them!
16. Thank you Knesset! and Steinitz
HappyatGreatNews ,   EretzYisrael   (11.13.11)
This is very wise and very good news as well as being judicially correct - no foreign influence over our country by money - everyone knows 'bribery blinds the wise' (Torah), so thank you to the Knesset members who voted to end corruption and strengthen honesty and our sovereign integrity by voting Yes to this bill. Mazel tov, thanks : )
17. GREAT SUGGESTION FOR MR. STEINITZ
Personal ,   EretzYisrael   (11.13.11)
On immediately improving the economy and creating equal wealth and opportunity in our country morally and ethically - go on talk Radio once a week and ask the Israeli public for suggestions (not criticisms, but suggestions) on how to do that, guaranteed you will get every taxi driver calling in and quite honestly, many are more with the program than some Knesset members. I say equal tax rate across the board and never higher than 30%, tax spending, not earning and saving and make sure we have more laws legislated like this one that prevent corruption and tighten the rules of accountability without the bureaucracy and temptation of corruption. Pilates.
18. The Left…
BA ,   Sweden   (11.13.11)
… ought by definition NOT to have any place in the Israeli public conversation, as they constitute an existential THREAT to the Jewish state from within. What are they but a Fifth Column?!
19. Livni and B'Telem
Larry ,   Los Angeles   (11.13.11)
I don't know what Livni's problem is, but B'Telem is a front for anti Israel activists. They get heavy funding from outside of Israel and they don't want to loose it.
20. Investigate far left groups for treason.
Chaim ,   Israel   (11.13.11)
As MK Yossi Peled (Likud) observed, it is unacceptable to allow Israel's enemies to fund far left groups to damage Israel. This is pure common sense and acceptable by the vast majority of Israelis. Some of these far left groups noted should also be investigated for treason. Israel has tolerated their despicable attacks for far too long.
21. " Human rights group B'Tselem". ?
Michael Redbourn ,   Arad Israel   (11.13.11)
Members of B'Tselem, Peace Now and similar groups are a bunch of nobodies who have never done anything noteworthy with the exception of joining a group that attacks its own country. Have any of them ever been a success at anything positive? Does B'Tselem protect the rights of newly enlisted soldiers that are checking Palestians for bombs and other weapons. If they got less of the publicity that they crave, they would shrivel up and die.
22. Silencing regimes!? This is laughable
Ron M ,   South Tel Aviv   (11.13.11)
Stopping european funding which interferes with internal matters silences non of Israel's citizens, removes non of their rights.. Tzippi Livni has become a sad joke, a slave to Obama and her European taskmasters. She should run for office in Europe, good luck to her.
23. Absolute proof Livni & Kadima are far left extremists.
Chaim ,   Israel   (11.13.11)
Livni and Kadima have destroyed all pretense of being centrist. They solidly line up with the far left on virtually every issue. Their strong opposition to the eminently sensible law to deny far left groups funding from Israel's enemies, is proof positive that Livni and Kadima are far left extremists. Voters should treat Livni and Kadima the same way they treat Meretz. By voting them out of existence.
24. Livni should be ashamed of herself!
tiki ,   belgium   (11.13.11)
She realy has lost her compass. Bravo for the wise decision of this governement.
25. #19 Larry: What would the US Supreme Court rule on this law?
David ,   Karmiel, Israel   (11.13.11)
Many seem to forget that Livni and Co were born out of the Likud. Likud and Kadimah policies don't differ that much unlike the Stalinist views of Israel Beiteinu! Peace Now!, B'Tzelem and other Left Wing organizations are doing tremendous damage to Israel and so are the Right Wing extremists. The Left have been doing this for years and no previous government found it necessary to bring in laws like this that resemble those of dictatorships and totalitarian governments like the real Apartheid State, South Africa! No group with a political agenda, left, right or center, should be allowed to receive foreign funding by governments and quasi government organizations. The question now is when are we going to declare the opposition "dissidents" and build Gulags in the Negev?
26. AIPAC is foreign intervention in American democracy
James ,   USA   (11.13.11)
Maybe we should ban them here in the USA.
27. The strategy to be followed on...
Moby ,   U.K.   (11.13.11)
It should really be fairly easy for our side. There are numerous examples thourghout the world that creating catch-phrases - which in this case highly true and fair - against Kadima, Brak's clown party and others, and the beneficiaries of the foreign funds naturally, that they are simply nothing less than traitors in general and what they are doing habitually amounts to treason. Say it, use it and bombard the public everyday 24/7 with this and similar phrases, create a "climate", debunk them, reveal them, uncover them, and you'll see the people will believe us. Everyone knows in their hearts of hearts that these subversives are what they are. Say it out loud then: "Israel will not be destroyed and controlled from enemy agents within and traitors"! It worked elsewhere brilliantly. IT's gonna work in Israel, too.
28. All the government knows is warmongering,
Rich ,   Toronto, Canada   (11.13.11)
in contrast to what it says in the Torah - "All the ways of the Torah are the ways that lead to the paths of peace." So where is the peace?
29. enough slogans from the left how about they explain the fact
zionist forever   (11.13.11)
Its anti democratic, the government is trying to silence the people, trying to stop free speech etc, all great slogans but as far as I can see they are nothing but slogans. How is limiting foreign donations trying to silence the people, they can still say what the hell they like only difference is they will have a smaller budget. Thats nor stopping free speech. How is it undemocratic? Allowing foreign governments to buy political influence in Israeli politics is whats undermocratic. The Geneve Accord was drafted with the EU who funded it and then provided the funding for Meretz to circulate the thing amongst the public. The EU is basically dictating to Meretz the platform they will stand on and then using money to try get them elected, Meretz has become an EU proxy because of foreign funding. In the US they have the Foreign Agents Registration Act to prevent this sort of thing but nobody says America us undemocratic because of it but if Israel wants its own version well now we are talking about facism and an end to democracy and freedom of speech. The only thing the leftists care about is lining their pockets with foreign money not freedom of speech or democracy.
30. #26 Hardly! No organization that you named publishes
Hippocrates ,   Earth   (11.13.11)
lists of us soldiers to and commanders and embers of congress to prosecute them in europe at the hague. btselem peace now and other eu organizations operating in israel do just that for israeli solders and government officials. your analogy is a think mask for your anti semitism. let me guess you're also a fan of the report by anti semties walt and mearsheimer that iran hasn't pursued nukes in over 8 years. Let me also guess that your education is sorely lacking. Please think a little more thoughtfully and deeper next time. shallow anti semitisim doesn't suit the brain God gave you.
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