European parliament factions warn Israeli president against NGO funding bill

Five heads of four European parliamentary factions that together comprise nearly half the European parliament have expressed concerns about the mounting pressure and recent attacks against civil society organization in Israel, Israeli public radio reported.

In a letter addressed to Israeli President Reuven Rivlin the leaders warned that the NGO funding bill proposed by right-wing parties could hurt Israel-EU relations.

The blocs called on Rivlin to act against the law and the campaign of incitement against civil society activists in Israel.

The so-called NGO funding bill stipulates that when representatives of nongovernmental organizations appear before Knesset committees they must disclose their funding from foreign governments if most of it comes from that source.