To: The United States House of Representatives and The United States Senate
Congress: Stand Up for Democracy in Israel
Just Foreign Policy
Members of Congress should speak out against the proposed Israeli law to isolate and marginalize peace and human rights groups.
Why is this important?
The Israeli Knesset is on the verge of adopting an anti-democratic law to isolate and marginalize internationally respected Israeli peace and human rights groups like Peace Now and B'Tselem. [1]
While purporting to be about "transparency," the proposed law would brand Peace Now, B'Tselem, and other Israeli groups working for democratic values like peace and human rights as "foreign agents," based on the fact that they receive funding from foreign governments, mainly European governments.
The American Jewish Committee says the proposed law risks Israel's reputation as a democracy. [2] The Washington Post editorial board warned: "The proposal reflects the kind of tactic that Russia and China have employed to squelch dissent, and it is not in keeping with Israel's core values as a democratic state." [3]
The proposed law discriminates against groups that receive foreign government funding, while allowing right-wing, pro-occupation Israeli groups that receive funding from foreign billionaires like Sheldon Adelson to continue to shield their donors from scrutiny. A recent Peace Now report found that 94% of donations to Israeli right-wing organizations are not transparent. [4]
Urge Congress to speak up against the proposed Israeli law to isolate and marginalize peace and human rights groups by signing our petition.
References:
1. http://peacenow.org/entry.php?id=16136
2. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ajc-statement-on-proposed-israeli-ngo-law-300199603.html
3. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/a-danger-to-israeli-democracy/2016/01/02/22f90a2e-af3d-11e5-b711-1998289ffcea_story.html
4. http://peacenow.org.il/eng/sites/default/files/Right%20Wing%20Funding.pdf
While purporting to be about "transparency," the proposed law would brand Peace Now, B'Tselem, and other Israeli groups working for democratic values like peace and human rights as "foreign agents," based on the fact that they receive funding from foreign governments, mainly European governments.
The American Jewish Committee says the proposed law risks Israel's reputation as a democracy. [2] The Washington Post editorial board warned: "The proposal reflects the kind of tactic that Russia and China have employed to squelch dissent, and it is not in keeping with Israel's core values as a democratic state." [3]
The proposed law discriminates against groups that receive foreign government funding, while allowing right-wing, pro-occupation Israeli groups that receive funding from foreign billionaires like Sheldon Adelson to continue to shield their donors from scrutiny. A recent Peace Now report found that 94% of donations to Israeli right-wing organizations are not transparent. [4]
Urge Congress to speak up against the proposed Israeli law to isolate and marginalize peace and human rights groups by signing our petition.
References:
1. http://peacenow.org/entry.php?id=16136
2. http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ajc-statement-on-proposed-israeli-ngo-law-300199603.html
3. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/a-danger-to-israeli-democracy/2016/01/02/22f90a2e-af3d-11e5-b711-1998289ffcea_story.html
4. http://peacenow.org.il/eng/sites/default/files/Right%20Wing%20Funding.pdf