DO AS “I” SAY, NOT AS “I” DO

DO AS I SAY AND NOT AS I DO!!

US Angry at 65% Tax on Hostile Israeli NGOs Receiving Foreign Contributions

On Sunday, the Ministerial Legislative Committee will debate a bill submitted by Likud MK Ariel Kallner that takes away the tax credit from Israeli donors to NGOs that receive donations from a foreign entity, and in the two years before or after said donations promoted a public cause by appealing to the court, the Knesset, the government, the municipalities or bought advertising space.

In addition, the NGO will lose its not-for-profit status and be taxed at a rate of 65% of its income. The bill is part of Otzma Yehudit’s coalition agreement with Likud, which committed to enacting it within 180 days of the formation of the Netanyahu government.

On Thursday, MK Kallner tweeted his reason for the bill and mentioned Sven Kuehn Von Burgsdorff, Head of “the delegation representing the EU in West Bank and Gaza and to UNRWA,” who last August participated in the reopening of Addameer, which Israel had declared to be an arm of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. The PFLP was designated as a terrorist organization by the US, EU, Canada, and Israel, and according to a 2021 NGO Monitor report, many individuals employed at Addameer have links to this terror group (Addameer Employees’ Violent Social Media Accounts).

“We’re putting an end to foreign political subversion!” Kallner tweeted, adding, “The fact that the head of the European Union delegation, Mr. Sven Kuehn Von Burgsdorff, thinks that the Jews are occupying the land to which they have returned, is the small problem in the story,” although, as he puts it, saying this about the remnants of European barbarism and mass murder is a tad insolent.

“The problem is that in addition to taking the position, foreign countries, mainly from Europe, do not stop acting within the Jewish state by funding civil society organizations,” and he mentions the anti-Zionist NGOs Yesh Din, Emek Shaveh, and Peace Now – to name but a few.

This did not go over well with US Ambassador to the UN Human Rights Committee, Michele Taylor, who said publicly that “Israel must ensure that human rights organizations and other non-governmental organizations can operate freely, without economic or legal pressures being applied to them that would harm their activities.”

Ambassador Taylor should consult her government’s Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, requiring the registration of, and disclosures by, an “agent of a foreign principal” who, among other things, solicits, collects, disburses, or dispenses contributions, loans, money, or other things of value for or in the interest of a foreign principal.

According to the FARA website, it is an important tool to identify foreign influence in the United States and address threats to national security. The central purpose of FARA is to promote transparency with respect to foreign influence within the United States by ensuring that the United States government and the public know the source of certain information from foreign agents intended to influence American public opinion, policy, and laws, thereby facilitating informed evaluation of that information.

Asked about the pending Israeli bill on Wednesday, Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller responded: “I will just say that as a general matter, the United States supports the essential role of NGOs as part of civil society. We believe they’re critical to a democratic and responsive, transparent government. And we firmly believe that civil society should have the opportunity and space to operate and raise resources around the world.”

He, too, must take a refresher course on the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938.

IN THE MEANTIME:

SOME FRIENDLY BLACKMAIL

US ultimatum to Netanyahu: Drop bill limiting aid to PA Arabs, score a meeting with Biden

Netanyahu, who has been working hard to score a meeting with the US President, had no choice but to capitulate and shelve the legislation.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly agreed to shelve the Nonprofits legislation, which aims to limit the aid foreign governments and bodies provide to Palestinian Authority Arabs, following increasing international pressure.

According to a report by Galei Tzahal's Yanir Cozin, a significant part of that pressure came from members of the Biden administration, who presented Netanyahu with an ultimatum.

According to the report, the White House made it clear to the Prime Minister that if he is interested in a meeting with President Biden and assistance in advancing normalization with Saudi Arabia, he would need to shelve the legislation that would harm civilian organizations immediately.

Netanyahu, who has been working hard to score a meeting with the US President and is aware of the vitality of American assistance in normalizing ties with the Saudis, had no choice but to capitulate to the American demands.

As reported, according to the bill initiated by Likud MK Ariel Kallner, a nonprofit which receives a donation from a foreign government will not be recognized as a public institution or a nonprofit and will be required to pay a 65% tax on every donation. In addition, its donors will not be able to receive a tax credit for their donations.

In addition to the Americans, several European governments vocally opposed the bill.

The French Embassy in Israel commented, "The draft of this bill is worrisome. We reaffirm our commitment to the crucial task of civil society in the life of every democracy, in Israel and in the entire world. Countries are responsible to create and protect the space and environment appropriate for their work since an active civil society can bring about a culture of peace and diversity."

Swedish Ambassador in Israel Erik Ullenhag tweeted, "A vital and strong civil society is crucial for every democracy. Therefore we are deeply concerned about the draft bill on NGO taxation - would severely limit Israeli civil society. As a friend of Israel, I have raised, and will continue to raise, the issue.”

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN:

International pressure to drop law against foreign interference

Nonprofit Law initiated by Likud MK Kallner would heavily tax organizations receiving donations from foreign governments.

Israel is facing increasing international pressure not to pass the Nonprofits Law in the Ministerial Committee for Legislation.

The bill, initiated by Likud MK Ariel Kallner, aims to limit the aid foreign governments and bodies provide to Palestinian Authority Arabs. If the bill passes, a nonprofit which receives a donation from a foreign government will not be recognized as a public institution or a nonprofit, and will be required to pay 65% tax on every donation. In addition, its donors will not be able to receive a tax credit for their donation. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/371989