Vote on controversial NGO bill delayed by ‘divine’ snowstorm

A vote on Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked’s proposed NGO transparency bill was postponed as the Knesset was closed down ahead of an expected snow storm, drawing cheers from lawmakers and activists who have stiffly opposed the measure.

The bill, slated to face its first of three Knesset votes Monday, would force non-governmental groups to publicize funding from foreign governments and have representatives wear tags in the Knesset similar to those used by lobbyists.

Critics in Israel and overseas say it singles out left-wing groups, since right-wing organizations are primarily funded by private donors, and that it is a veiled effort to silence these organizations, which are often critical of Israeli government policies.

After the announcement the vote would be delayed, The New Israel Fund tweeted “Divine intervention?”

Others also saw a heavenly hand behind the rain check.

Peace Now head Yariv Oppenheimer tweeted “We can only count on [MK Betzalel] Smotrich and on our Father in Heaven,” paraphrasing a Jewish saying.

On Friday, three lawmakers — Oren Hazan and Ayoub Kara of Likud, as well as MK Bezalel Smotrich of Jewish Home — threatened to boycott coalition votes at the plenum after the Defense Ministry ordered the evacuation of Jewish settlers from two Hebron homes they had occupied under contested circumstances. They said they would refuse to attend Knesset votes until the settlers were allowed back into the buildings.

Smotrich on Monday was given permission by his party not to vote with the coalition.

But with the agreement of Avigdor Lieberman’s opposition Yisrael Beiteinu Party to support the coalition, the bill had been expected to pass its first reading.

MKs from the centrist Kulanu party are opposed to the bill but obliged by coalition agreements to vote in favor.

Proponents of the bill say it merely improves transparency, and that while forcing the organizations to disclose their funding, it does not restrict their activities.

“The proposed rule in Israel on disclosure of NGOs is not anti-democratic. It’s transparency, which is the heart of democracy,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last week. “I think when you hear of the use and abuse of NGOs here, that’s the least that we want, transparency, and I think that it’s much warranted. I think it’s just common sense.”

Earlier Monday, two NGOs which stand to be hurt if the bill becomes law blasted the proposed legislation as an “own goal for the right-wing, settler government.”

Haggai Elad, head of B’Tselem, which seeks to document and educate the public and policymakers about human rights violations in the West Bank, said Monday that the “incitement campaign” that the government was waging “against NGOs together with non-profit settlement organizations, could bear positive fruit.

“Finally, people are talking about the occupation. Recently, thousands of Israelis have joined [anti-occupation] organizations to learn, listen, volunteer and contribute to the struggle against the occupation regime,” he said.

Yuli Novak, head of Breaking the Silence, which collects reports, usually anonymously, about alleged abuses by soldiers in the West Bank, said the organization would not be deterred from giving voice to soldiers “who love Israel but oppose the occupation, who think that military rule over the Palestinian population is morally unacceptable and harms us as a society.”