Over 1 million pilgrims benefit from golf cart service at Grand Mosque during Ramadan    Visitors welcomed with Eid initiative at Thee Ain Heritage Village in Al-Baha    Tebuk emir reviews rain response in Tayma    Saudi Arabia considers rent cap as part of major real estate reforms    Messi's bodyguard banned from touchline at Inter Miami games    Screen time in bed linked to insomnia, study finds    Le Pen vows to appeal political ban, calls verdict a 'denial of democracy'    Death toll from Myanmar earthquake rises to 2,719 as rescue efforts continue    Russia, Ukraine trade blame over new energy strikes    Putin orders Russia's largest military call-up in over a decade    Albania hosts MWL chief for Eid sermon at largest mosque in the Balkans    Haramain High-Speed Railway transports over 1.2 million passengers during Ramadan    Saudi Transport Authority says passengers can ride for free if taxi meters are off    Ministry of Education forms 425 community partnerships with SR653 million impact    Mexico bans junk food in schools to fight childhood obesity epidemic    Sweet sales surge ahead of Eid as Saudi chocolate imports top 123 million kg in 2024    Saudi creatives shine at Jeddah's Fawanees Nights with art, fashion, and storytelling    T1 CEO confirms Gumayusi's return for LCK Spring after lineup shakeup    100 Thieves claim Marvel Rivals Invitational NA crown as 2025 scene heats up    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Saudi Arabia hold Japan to goalless draw in Saitama to stay in World Cup hunt    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Israeli MPs take first step to pass contentious NGO law
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 10 - 02 - 2016

A controversial bill that would compel NGOs receiving most of their funding from foreign governments to declare it in official reports passed its first reading in the Israeli parliament early Tuesday.
The proposal — denounced by critics as likely to encourage a witch-hunt against leftist groups that campaign for the defense of Palestinian rights — was passed in a 50-43 vote following a tense debate.
Two more readings of the bill by the parliament, or Knesset, are required for it to become law.
The text has renewed tension between one of the most rightwing governments in Israeli history and the United States and the European Union.
Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, who proposed the law, argues it will boost transparency as the government seeks to fight foreign interference and attempts to delegitimize the state of Israel. She has insisted it does not target any specific NGO.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also expressed support for the law. The text does not specifically refer to leftist organizations, but they are expected to be most affected as right-wing NGOs, such as those supporting Israel's occupation of the West Bank, tend to rely on private donations, particularly from within the United States.
Several leftwing Israeli NGOs receive large percentages of their funding from abroad, including from European governments. The bill has sparked international criticism, with the US and EU ambassadors to Israel both expressing concern over its implications.
It stipulates that NGOs receiving more than half of their funding from foreign governments will have to declare it in all their official reports. At the request of Netanyahu, however, a proposed requirement for NGO members to wear a badge indicating their organization is funded by a foreign country was dropped.
"I do not understand how a requirement for transparency is anti-democratic; the opposite is true," Netanyahu said last month. "In a democratic regime, we need to know who is financing such NGOs, from the right, the left, up or down."
Israeli leftwing NGOs have expressed concern at increasingly personal attacks they have been subjected to in recent months, including regular harassment and even death threats.
Settlement watchdog Peace Now has called the bill "a hate crime against democracy" while the United States has warned it could have a "chilling effect."
In a statement on Tuesday, Peace Now said "the passing of the NGO bill is a violent and discriminatory act of public shaming against those criticizing the government.
"Despite Netanyahu's statements, the bill resembles the situation in Russia and not that in the United States or in any other democratic country," it said.


Clic here to read the story from its source.