Public opinion in Arab and Muslim countries tends to cast all Israelis in an aggressor’s role, at least as silent supporters of their government’s brazen violations and assaults on innocent Palestinians if not active participants. But that’s an erroneous idea. There is a small number of Israelis who are vehemently critical of their government’s policies towards Palestinians. They include leftists, non-governmental organisations and even individuals who have been a thorn in the side of the government, whose actions the government has been trying to stifle and suppress with the support of right-wing parties. The government of Benjamin Netanyahu has now gone one step ahead with the plan for a legislation that seeks to silence and punish non-governmental organisations and others who sympathise with the cause of Palestinians.
A bill targeting Israeli human rights groups critical of Israel’s policies is set to win initial approval in parliament with the support of the country’s right-wing. Called ‘transparency bill, the new law would require NGOs to give full details of their overseas donations, including sources, if more than half their funding comes from foreign governments or bodies such as the European Union. The bill was proposed last November by right-wing minister of justice Ayelet Shaked.
The bill is another example of Israel’s shift to the right, which has been a subject of intense debate in the country. Israel is going through a process of radicalisation unheard of in its history, aided by religious parties and right-wing groups who are thriving on land seized from Palestinians. This domination of the right over the political system is seen as eroding the principles of the founding fathers of the Zionist country, causing concern at home and abroad. The transparency bill will expedite the country’s plunge into absolute intolerance and religious bigotry. The new law will also undermine Israeli democracy and freedom of expression, the cornerstones of its constitutional edifice the country prides itself on.
The United States and EU have expressed their concerns publicly and privately about the legislation, but that is not enough. Crackdown on Israeli NGOs will only help cut off a vital vein of support to Palestinians. More than 30,000 NGOs are registered in Israel and about half of them are active. According to reports, around 70 of those groups deal with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and receive funds either from the EU as a whole, or individual member governments, including Denmark, Sweden and Belgium, as well as non-member Norway.
Global human rights groups and western governments must come down more forcefully on Tel Aviv to force it to abandon the law. The legislation comes at a time when Europe is increasingly rallying behind the Palestinian cause. The crackdown on NGOs will only help increase support for Palestinians.
Public opinion in Arab and Muslim countries tends to cast all Israelis in an aggressor’s role, at least as silent supporters of their government’s brazen violations and assaults on innocent Palestinians if not active participants. But that’s an erroneous idea. There is a small number of Israelis who are vehemently critical of their government’s policies towards Palestinians. They include leftists, non-governmental organisations and even individuals who have been a thorn in the side of the government, whose actions the government has been trying to stifle and suppress with the support of right-wing parties. The government of Benjamin Netanyahu has now gone one step ahead with the plan for a legislation that seeks to silence and punish non-governmental organisations and others who sympathise with the cause of Palestinians.
A bill targeting Israeli human rights groups critical of Israel’s policies is set to win initial approval in parliament with the support of the country’s right-wing. Called ‘transparency bill, the new law would require NGOs to give full details of their overseas donations, including sources, if more than half their funding comes from foreign governments or bodies such as the European Union. The bill was proposed last November by right-wing minister of justice Ayelet Shaked.
The bill is another example of Israel’s shift to the right, which has been a subject of intense debate in the country. Israel is going through a process of radicalisation unheard of in its history, aided by religious parties and right-wing groups who are thriving on land seized from Palestinians. This domination of the right over the political system is seen as eroding the principles of the founding fathers of the Zionist country, causing concern at home and abroad. The transparency bill will expedite the country’s plunge into absolute intolerance and religious bigotry. The new law will also undermine Israeli democracy and freedom of expression, the cornerstones of its constitutional edifice the country prides itself on.
The United States and EU have expressed their concerns publicly and privately about the legislation, but that is not enough. Crackdown on Israeli NGOs will only help cut off a vital vein of support to Palestinians. More than 30,000 NGOs are registered in Israel and about half of them are active. According to reports, around 70 of those groups deal with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and receive funds either from the EU as a whole, or individual member governments, including Denmark, Sweden and Belgium, as well as non-member Norway.
Global human rights groups and western governments must come down more forcefully on Tel Aviv to force it to abandon the law. The legislation comes at a time when Europe is increasingly rallying behind the Palestinian cause. The crackdown on NGOs will only help increase support for Palestinians.
