Tabled by: MK Ofir Akunis (Likud) on 30 March 2011; current version tabled on 13 June 2011.
This bill, officially titled “The Associations Law (Amendment – Prohibition of Support from a Foreign State Entity to Political Associations in Israel), stipulates that “political organizations” would be allowed to accept donations from a “foreign state entity” not exceeding 20,000 NIS per year. The explanatory notes to the bill state that the bill has been proposed “in light of the inciting activity of many organizations, who operate under the guise of ‘human rights groups’ and come to influence the political discourse, the character, and the policies of the State of Israel.”
The first version of the bill was rejected by the Ministerial Committee on Legislation for being too broad and affecting too wide a range of organizations. MK Akunis then submitted a new version of the bill, which restricts the bill to “political organizations,” defined in the bill as “an association whose goals include an attempt to impact on the State of Israel’s political and security agenda, or an association in the framework of which activities of political nature take place” – thereby intending to target peace organizations and human rights groups.
The bill was set to be discussed by the Ministerial Committee in July 2011, but the Israeli media reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu postponed it in order to quiet down the local and international outrage following the approval of the Anti-Boycott Law. However, in November 2011 it was announced that the bill will be discussed by the committee and Israeli media reported that the bill is supported by Prime Minister Netanyahu.
On 13 November 2011, the Ministerial Committee on Legislation decided to support this bill – 11 ministers voted in favor and 5 against. An appeal was made as part of the vote at the ministerial committee, and therefore the bill is expected to be brought for discussion by the government’s full assembly, together with a separate but related bill proposed by MK Fania Kirshenbaum, before they can proceed to a preliminary reading in the Knesset plenum. However, on 20 November 2011, Israeli media outlets reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu has instructed to freeze the advancement of these bills.
On 30 November 2011, a new version of this bill was presented – combining the Akunis Bill and the Kirshenbaum Bill into one, hybrid bill. However, following harsh criticism, including by Israel’s Attorney General, the new version is not currently being promoted.
30 March 2011: Bill is presented in the Knesset.
13 June 2011: Revised version of bill is presented in the Knesset.
13 November 2011: The Ministerial Committee on Legislation voted in favor of the coalition supporting this bill.
30 November 2011: New version of bill presented, which combines the Akunis Bill and the Kirshenbaum Bill into one, hybrid bill.
Status: Bill is awaiting its preliminary reading in the plenum.
