Israel: Attempt to introduce legislation to silence human rights organisations

Front Line is concerned by reports of an increasing trend to restrict the activities of human rights organisations and to challenge the legitimacy of their work in Israel. Following a series of statements made by Israeli officials against the work of human rights organisations, an attempt is now under way to introduce legislation that will restrict their activities.

Further Information

According to the information received, members of the Knesset (the legislative branch of the Israeli government) are currently seeking the enactment of proposed legislation on the “Requirement of Disclosure Relating to Anyone Supported by a Foreign Political Entity”. The objective of the proposed law is allegedly to “promote transparency”, however, on close examination it is clear that it could be used to delegitimise human rights organisations, label their members as traitors, and impede their freedom to carry out their human rights activities.

The bill applies to any organisation that engages in political activity, which is defined as any activity aimed at affecting public opinion or bringing about change in policy. According to the proposal, every such organisation that wishes to receive funding from foreign countries will be required, as a pre-condition, to register with the Registrar of Political Parties, to file reports on any donations or funding received, to publish all information regarding such donations and funding on the Internet, and to mention on every document and at the beginning of every meeting or hearing and so forth that it receives funding from foreign entities.

The bill also places personal responsibility on office holders within the organisations, including board members, directors, and accountants, among others, and prescribes a prison sentence and fine for those who contravene certain articles of the statutes. In addition, organisations engaging in political activity, as defined by the law, will lose their status as a public institution as defined in the Income Tax Ordinance, and with it the exemptions currently given to them.

Should the bill be enacted, it will severely impede freedom of association in Israel, render registration of civil society organisations as non-profit organisations meaningless, confuse the functions of the Registrar of Political Parties and the Registrar of Non-Profit Organisations, and revoke the status of public institution (within its meaning in the Income Tax Ordinance) from hundreds of civil society bodies in Israel that work in a wide variety of areas, including human rights.