What is the bill? What does the bill say?

NOTE: This post was updated on January 21, 2016, to reflect changes introduced to the draft bill, as submitted by the cabinet to the Knesset on January 18, 2016. The language of the bill (Hebrew) can be found here. 

The bill’s official title is “Amendment to Bill on disclosure regarding those supported by a foreign political entity (Increasing transparency for those supported mainly by foreign political entities)." It is also known by its backers as the “Transparency Bill.” The bill is an amendment to an existing 2011 law, which determines the disclosure requirements of Israeli non-profit, non-governmental organizations (NGOs or NPOs) that receive funding from “Foreign Political Entities” (foreign governments, the European Union or the United Nations).

1. Omnibus: DOD Appropriations
2. Omnibus: ForOps Approps
3. Omnibus: Other stuff

NOTE: FOR INFORMATION ON ALL OTHER LEGISLATION, HEARINGS, ETC, SEE PART 1 OF THIS WEEK’S ROUND-UP

1. New Bills, Resolutions, and Letters
2. Settlements = Israel, the Congressional Campaign Continues
3. New Iran Battles in Congress – What to Expect in 2016
4. Hearings
5. On the Record

NOTE: FOR DETAILS OF THE FY16 OMNIBUS, SEE PART 2 OF THIS WEEK’S ROUND-UP

APN briefing call  with Israeli democracy expert

Mordechai (Motta) Kremnitzer 

Wednesday, January 6th Time: 1:00 pm (Eastern Time)

Professor Kremnitzer discussed the recent draft legislation aimed at silencing Israeli progressive organizations such as Peace Now, as well as other anti-democratic measures initiated by the Israeli government and the Knesset. He assessed the overall state of Israeli democracy as it faces a governmental assault on civil society, extreme right wing violence and intimidation, as well as a surge in hate speech. 

The recorded call is available here.

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Professor Mordechai Kremnitzer is Vice President of Research at the Israel Democracy Institute (IDI) and Professor Emeritus at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Faculty of Law, where he served as Dean. He is an expert on criminal, military, and public law, and widely considered as a leading expert on Israeli democracy and democracy education. At the IDI, he has been leading the following projects: Constitutional Principles and their Implementation, National Security and Democracy, Arab-Jewish Relations, and Proportionality in Public Policy.

The Israeli government’s gift to Washington this holiday season was the gift of occupation. Literally so. You may have missed the story because of the holiday, but shortly before Christmas, Benjamin Netanyahu’s ambassador to Washington, Ron Dermer, proudly announced that this year, instead of sending products made in Israel to American friends, he is breaking with tradition and sending gift boxes  containing products made exclusively in settlements in the occupied territories.

Allegedly, this was intended as a message to those who call for punitive economic measures against Israel (ironically, it plays into their hands), but it clearly was aimed at the Obama administration’s rejection of Netanyahu’s settlement policies. Another Netanyahu finger in the eye of an American administration that had the audacity to attempt to broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians.