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Is this a Nazi Democracy ?

By SHOAHNovember 17, 2011Human Rights

Bad news! A subcommittee of the Israeli cabinet voted to approve both bills targeting progressive NGOs that Daniel wrote to us about on Thursday.

But the fight is not over. The decision is set to be reviewed by the cabinet again — as soon as this Sunday — and Prime Minister Netanyahu says that he wants to see significant changes made to the bills before they become law.

Help defend Israeli democracy. Write Prime Minister Netanyahu today.

You and I know that limiting the rights of Israel human rights groups is the wrong move for a democracy. And we’re not alone:

Here’s what Knesset Speaker Ruby Rivlin — a Likud stalwart — had to say about yesterday’s cabinet vote: “The new Likud is not committed to the ethics of liberty, to the values of Jabotinsky and of Begin.”

Another leader in Likud — Minister Benny Begin (who voted against the bills) — made a similar comment: ” Zimbabwe , Eritrea , Uzbekistan – these are countries that have similar laws to this one.” He added: “What kind of society are we living in?”

Both the Israeli and international press are covering this issue closely. Israeli commentators from left to right are slamming the bills.

The ferocity of the criticism facing the prime minister and his cabinet gives me hope that we can stop this latest assault on basic freedoms in Israel. And in a very unusual move – both the attorney general and Israel ’s national security advisor weighed in to oppose this legislation. Today, we need you to act.

Lend your voice. Tell Prime Minister Netanyahu that Israel’s democracy matters to you.

Thank you for everything,

Rachel Liel
Executive Director in Israel , NIF

P.S. — After you send your message, please pass this email on to your friends and colleagues. We need more people like you involved in this struggle!

Rachel–

The Israeli Cabinet is set to vote Sunday on two bills that limit

the ability of progressive Israeli groups to raise funds. The bills

explicitly target funding for human rights and social justice

groups.I want you to know about this threat to Israelis society.

And I want you to know that NIF will not allow the most important

Israeli voices for progressive values to be muzzled.

NIF and the groups we support are working as a united front.

Our staff are meeting with their contacts in their Knesset and

with Cabinet officials. And we’re reaching out to leaders in the

United States to weigh in.

The two bills — one authored by Ofir Akunis (Likud) and the

other by Fania Kirschenbaum (Yisrael Beitenu) — would severely

limit or tax foreign-government funding for Israeli civil society.

Click here to learn about the dangers posed by these bills.

Their strategy is simple: Shoot the messenger. They don’t like the

problems revealed by Israeli human rights organizations. And rather

than address the issues, they’re trying to dry up funding for some of

the most important and courageous groups in Israel .

If they succeed, they’ll not only shoot the messenger, they’ll be

dealing a blow to all of us who care about Israel .

The Israel we love cannot survive if it is not a free and democratic

society. Passing legislation like these bills — legislation that stifles

dissenting voices — deprives Israelis of access to independent

sources of information and to a range of opinions. The very fact

that this legislation has come this far may already create a chilling

effect on the vibrancy of democracy in Israel .

These two bills are part of a disturbing trend. Over the past two

years we’ve seen repeated efforts by political officials to silence

those who dare to question the current political orthodoxy. Legislation

is not their only tactic. Just this week, a prominent reporter — known

for her aggressive interview style — was sacked by the government-

owned television station.

I believe that Israel can be better than this. That’s why I’ m a part of

the New Israel Fund. I think that’s why you are too.

NIF defends democratic values in Israel . Please know that we’re working

hard to stop these two bills.

Learn more about this effort here.

I’ll be in touch with more soon,

Daniel Sokatch
CEO, New Israel Fund

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