RAMALLAH, June 26, 2011 (WAFA) – Right-wing Israeli Knesset members Sunday proposed two laws to restrict human rights organizations from receiving financial aid from donor countries, claiming that these organizations are accusing Israeli soldiers of committing war crimes.
Likud Knesset Member, Ophir Occonnes, and Yisrael Beiteinu member, Vani Kirshenbaum proposed two laws which prohibit receiving financial aid from foreign countries and impose 45% taxes on human rights organization money.
Occonnes said that, according to the suggested law, it is not allowed for human rights organizations to receive financial aid from the European Union or United Nations, especially the organizations which presented information to the Golden Stone committee accusing Israel of committing war crimes.
Several human rights organizations have demanded the Israeli government not to pass the law because it “affects the process of defending human rights.”
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs opposed the propsed law because “it can’t be justified to donor countries.”
M.H.
