Is the Proposed Israeli legislation Limiting Foreign Funding to NGOs a Threat to Democracy or a Legitimate Measure?

Weekly Question: Is the Proposed Israeli legislation Limiting Foreign Funding to NGOs a Threat to Democracy or a Legitimate Measure?

Please leave a comment below to let us know what you think.

November 16, 2011

20 Comments → “Is the Proposed Israeli legislation Limiting Foreign Funding to NGOs a Threat to Democracy or a Legitimate Measure?”

nomi benari

4:25 pm

Nov 16, 2011

It isunacceptable for foreign states to interfere in the running of a democratic state. It is particularly disturbing when, as reported, the UK Foreign Office has expressed satisfaction that by funding ‘Left Wing’ NGOs, it has been able to influence public oopinon in ISrael andinfluence policies. Has Israel become a Colony of the UK?

Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 24 7

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Irv Frumberg

5:11 pm

Nov 16, 2011

Since the funding from of the money is flowing into most of the leftest NGOs, it gives them the finances to hamper Democracy that is left in the only country in the Middle East. That country’s name is Israel.

Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 18 7

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Marcoroz

5:14 pm

Nov 16, 2011

For sure it is a legitimate measure. Insofar as a NGO gets foreign funding, it becomes a tool used by the ennemy in order to harm Israel.

Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 21 7

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M Lovat

5:19 pm

Nov 16, 2011

Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
It seems perverse that when so much money is flowing from the diaspora to support indolent charedim, and when the government itself receives massive funding from the USA, that a relative small amount of funds going to a socially conscious organization who need support just as much as the ardent right -wing is outlawed. Does this mean that if the Labour grouping comes to power they will be allowed to outlaw the receipt of funds by right-wing organisations and extreme nationalists, from overseas, regardless of provenance?

Poorly-rated. Agree or Disagree: 5 15

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Billie

5:36 pm

Nov 16, 2011

I spend an enormous amount of my time and energy advocating for Israel with letters to the editor, op eds, conversations, not to mention donations. However, M Lovat is absolutely right about the massive outside funding received by the charedim– and let us not even begin to discuss their power in Israel– and the government’s plan to cut off outside funding to the NGO;s which fight for democratic principles. Absolutely unconscionable…

Hot debate. What do you think? 6 14

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viiit

5:41 pm

Nov 16, 2011

Let’s support Irish separatists in Britain.
That i going to teach them a lesson about interfering with Israeli “human rights”.

Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 15 2

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DAVID BENTATA

5:49 pm

Nov 16, 2011

C’est une loi trop douce: les fonds de l’Etranger, qui hait Israël, viennent aider des Associations gauchistes anti juives et anti israéliennes, à trahir le pays en fournissant des informations (fausses) ou en combattant à l’intérieur du pauys pour soutenir les Palestiniens et amener Israël à accepter leurs conditions. Dans tout autre pays elles seraient déclarées des traîtres et fermées. Avec des conséquences graves pour les promoteurs!

Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 9 1

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Abu Nudnik

5:52 pm

Nov 16, 2011

Who would ask this question if the law were Canadian, American or any other sovereign state?

Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 12 0

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Rena

5:54 pm

Nov 16, 2011

The proposal should go further in choking off funds to organizations which call for the downfall and delegitimization of the State of Israel. The Knesset should limit the activities of any extreme organization, whether they are funded by foreign or domestic sources.

Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 18 3

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Kenneth Fils

6:46 pm

Nov 16, 2011

Because of the use of manipulative and dishonest tactics used by various outside countries, organizations, and groups to find ways to castigate and delegitimize Israel, their efforts to fund the extreme left wing organizations may be legal, but highly unethical and unhealthy for the Israeli democracy. Israel does not have hundreds of millions of residents but a mere handful–and it is quite vulnerable in the world. Therefore, organizations which seek it’s destruction figuratively or literally, should not be allowed to provide funds to accelerate the process.

Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 14 3

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Neil W London

7:20 pm

Nov 16, 2011

THEY KNOW MORE THAN ANYONE IN THE DIASPORA ABOUT WHATS GOOD FOR ISRAEL – THEY ARE IN THE CABINET!!!

Ruby Rivlin — a Likud stalwart — said at yesterday’s cabinet vote: “The new Likud is not committed to the ethics of liberty, to the values of Jabotinsky and of Begin.”

Another leader in Likud — Minister Benny Begin (who voted against the bills) — made a similar comment: “Zimbabwe, Eritrea, Uzbekistan – these are countries that have similar laws to this one.” He added: “What kind of society are we living in?”

Hot debate. What do you think? 1 7

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Russell Gaddin

7:23 pm

Nov 16, 2011

It’s rather remarkable that comparisons can be made between donations to left wing organizations determined to hurt the State of Israel – with donations made to Chaderim for funding their Yeshivot
and large families (whether or not you like therm or not) , or funds “donated” by the USA for military defense purposes. Does it have to be spelled out that donations to religious organizations for religious studies and lifestyles or donations by way of military hardware to maintain balances of power is VERY DIFFERENT to Political donations being used to undermine an elected Government. Do commentators not understand that the USA’s donations for military hardware is a balancing program for funding given to Egypt, the Palestinians, and many other Arab States in the area. What nonsense.

Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 7 2

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Arturo

7:32 pm

Nov 16, 2011

I would rather close all forgein NGO. Democracy is for israelies, not for europeans or palestinians.
I also would rather expulse journalists that write like antiisraelist and would close newspaper representaions like The Guardian, El PAIS, etc.
Our Country is more important than absolute freedom, and in case of danger, is more important than democracy.
If spanish and british want democracy, go to Arabia !! go to Syria!!! , go to Iran if they are “machos“

Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 9 0

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Gershom

7:57 pm

Nov 16, 2011

All I can see is the consistency of our Goverment in ko towing the the leftist mob, who are forever so sacrosanct in their desire to ruin and undermine Israel and the jewish people. They are by default always right and that makes every other opinion automatically wrong. If it’s in sync with the attitudes of our justice dept. to remove and destroy the homes of good jews in
Samaria and Judea, it is also consistent to allow foreign entities to root into the Isaeli framework
and carry out their perverted ideologies to the harm of Israel and all Israelis, not to mention the
diaspora who are mostly still are on Israels side. When is Israel going to graduate from kindergarten and start doing things in its own interest. The UN is perverted, the current gub’ment
of the USA is perverted, so what difference does it make if we make unpopular decisions. In their eyes(leftist naturally) we’re always wrong. Take over “the west bank” and defang the
traitors.

Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 6 0

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David Peters

7:59 pm

Nov 16, 2011

This law does not limit (unless taxing foreign government contributions is a limit) NGO activities, but rather exposes them for what is not permitted in the US.
In the US, foreign government contributors (or their agents) must register as such.
Israel had no such law, because until now, the beneficiaries of such (undisclosed) contributions were themselves were in the government. They want to maintain that unpublicized status even now.
It makes you wonder, what are they trying to hide (or keep hidden)?

Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 6 0

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Evelyn

8:35 pm

Nov 16, 2011

The law applies to ALL NGO’s not only left wing ones and was meant to balance the silencing of the right BY the left since the beginning of the state.

Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 4 0

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jim long

9:09 pm

Nov 16, 2011

nothing,nothing but nothing is more important than ” f r e e d o m” ,nothing.
and anyone who ever tated it on their tongue even in the most miniscule way
would fight and even die for it, ‘turo.
— for those who have fought for it freedom has a flavor the protected will never know—

arabia/syria/iran???…… oh, oh, you had me goin there for a min.

Agree or Disagree: 0 0

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Monty Pogoda

10:53 pm

Nov 16, 2011

I would make it even harder for them. I would not even allow them the I.S. 20,000.00 the govt wants to give them. These leftists live off the money extremely well and at the same time are a fifth column. I consider them enemies of the state and if I had the power,would exile them to Gaza.
There is such a thing as “Democracy Gone Wild”.

Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 6 0

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Joe Ezekiel

2:25 am

Nov 17, 2011

I wonder if the NGO executives are aware that their actions are tantamount to an attack to the security of Israel. No doubt that the enemies of Israel – and there is no shortage of these – love the machinations of such organisations. Have any of these NGO members given any thought that the funds they receive originate from anti-semitic and anti-Israel sources? Might as well get the likes of Ahmedinijad pour his petro-dollars into these organisations.

Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 4 0

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Leslie Portnoy

8:43 am

Nov 17, 2011

What is anti-democratic about requiring disclosure of financial contributions?

Unless, of course, you have something to hide.

Well-loved. Agree or Disagree: 4 0

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