The Israeli Knesset plenum yesterday approved in a preliminary reading a controversial bill that allows courts to reject petitions filed by foreign funded organisations and allows the government to tax them at a rate of 80 per cent.
The controversial bill proposed by Likud MK Ariel Kallner, would curb activities aimed at documenting human rights violations and war crimes committed by Israel.
Kallner claimed “these organisations delegitimise” Israel’s policies against the Palestinians, and “turn Israeli courts into an arena for foreign states” in what he described as “a funded judicial coup against the state of Israel.”
“The purpose of this bill is to reduce the indirect influence of foreign governments and political entities on the State of Israel. This influence is manifested, among other things, in direct financial support for nonprofit organisations in Israel, which act as agents of change on behalf of these entities,” the bill’s explanatory notes read.
Under Israeli law, organisations are exempt from paying taxes on donations.
In 2023, a similar bill, submitted by Kallner, was frozen following pressure and opposition, including from the Biden administration and European countries. The previous bill stipulated that donations would be subject to income tax at a rate of 65 per cent.
READ: Israeli cabinet advances bills curbing efforts to document rights violations, war crimes