Only 19 Members of
the Knesset From the
Opposition Voted Against
Immediately after the elections, Netanyahu’s government swallowed up the Knesset’s sovereignty, leaving no crumbs behind. Then came the judicial overhaul, aimed at undermining the independence of the judiciary. Meanwhile, the government has been eroding what remains of the civil service, while the media, academia, and state-funded cultural institutions have all been placed in its crosshairs. Now, it is the turn of civil society organization.
On Wednesday (19.2.24), the Knesset approved in a preliminary reading a bill that will make it harder for NGOs receiving funding from foreign governments, as well as corporations and foundations controlled by such governments, to petition the courts. Forty-seven MKs supported the bill, while the opposition managed to rally only 19 votes against it.
The proposal, intended in part to disrupt the ongoing activities of organizations that defend human rights and oppose the occupation, was submitted by MK Ariel Kallner (Likud). It stipulates that courts will not be obligated to consider petitions filed by NGOs whose primary funding comes from a foreign political entity. The bill’s initiator aims to deprive these organizations of their ability to challenge government injustices — often the only tool available to counteract oppression, discrimination, and arbitrary rule.
The proposed law goes even further, mandating an 80% tax on donations received from foreign political entities unless the finance minister, with the approval of the Knesset Finance Committee, decides otherwise. This exemption mechanism would allow the finance minister to waive the tax requirement for right-wing organizations benefiting from similar donations. Furthermore, the bill specifies that its harsh provisions will not apply to state-funded public institutions. These two exemptions make the bill’s intent crystal clear: to neutralize any civil organization’s ability to criticize and resist the government,
Under current law, all NGOs are exempt from taxes on donations. The proposed legislation, which seeks to revoke this exemption specifically for organizations opposing government policy, is part of a broader effort to silence human rights groups. It can be seen as a component of the "judicial coup" aimed at dismantling the checks and balances of the democratic system.
While the bill primarily targets “left-wing” organizations receiving foreign donations, it could also harm NGOs that advocate for marginalized communities, including minorities, workers, and undocumented individuals. Meanwhile, right-wing organizations enjoy funding from billionaires and private entities, making them exempt from the bill’s provisions. A legal opinion from the Israel Democracy Institute, authored by Prof. Mordechai Kremnitzer and Dr. Amir Fuchs, warns that the bill could lead to the closure of organizations working for women’s rights, labor rights, elderly care, and Holocaust survivors. They describe the proposal as unconstitutional, damaging to Israel’s relations with Western democracies, and designed to suppress criticism of the government. They conclude that it is a “harmful proposal that aligns perfectly with the judicial coup".
According to that opinion, the bill “undermines the foundations of democracy, civil society, human rights, freedom of association and expression, the principle of equality, and the rule of law. It erodes the state’s fundamental values and its moral character.” Kremnitzer and Fuchs note similarities between this bill and measures taken in Hungary and Poland to crack down on human rights organizations. Now, it is happening here. The bill is explicitly designed to block donations from Israel’s democratic allies—such as the U.S., the U.K., and EU member states—whose support goes to organizations promoting democratic values shared by both Israel and Western Europe, as well as the U.S. under Biden, Obama, and Clinton.
The New Israel Fund, which relies on private donations and is therefore unaffected by the bill, issued a statement declaring that it recognizes this as yet another step against those fighting a government intent on dismantling democracy. "Peace Now" stated that the bill originated in the backrooms of “Im Tirtzu” and “Kohelet.” The legislation began as a private member’s bill that was later endorsed by the Ministerial Committee for Legislation, circumventing the requirement for a legal advisory opinion—a standard practice under the current government.
The organization “Combatants for Peace” released a statement warning that for NGOs reliant on international funding—which make up the vast majority of human rights organizations in Israel—the bill would strip them of their ability to file petitions in Israeli courts. “This is a direct attack on democracy, eliminating one of civil society’s most crucial tools for protecting human rights."
Haaretz reported that dozens of civil society organizations wrote to MKs, stating that the bill is intended to “target anyone who criticizes and challenges the government by undermining organizations that do not receive state funding.” As noted, only 19 MKs showed any willingness to resist.
"Peace Now" appealed to President Isaac Herzog, urging him to take a clear, decisive stance against the bill. In their letter, the organization called the bill a “brutal attempt to consolidate power by silencing opposition.” They emphasized that similar laws exist only in non-democratic regimes such as Russia, Hungary, and Turkey.
A document published by “Combatants for Peace” warned that the bill would block judicial review of human rights violations, silence civil society, and sever international support for organizations working toward peace, justice, and equality. It further argued that the law would undermine democracy by granting the government unchecked power to suppress dissent. The bill’s ultimate impact would be to entrench and intensify the occupation by removing one of the last remaining oversight mechanisms on government policy, which continues to perpetuate human rights violations and violence.
That same day, another bill passed a preliminary reading by a vote of 25 in favor and 10 against. This legislation prohibits individuals, authorities, and public bodies from “cooperating with the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.” Submitted by MK Amit Halevi (Likud), the bill would impose a five-year prison sentence on anyone “providing services to the ICC or making resources available to it,” unless they could prove they were unaware that the assistance was for the court’s operations. This law could potentially apply even to indirect reporting, such as investigative journalism.
The settlement-supporting government is exploiting its automatic majority in the Knesset to enshrine anti-democratic laws that violate fundamental rights recognized by the international community since the end of World War II. The rise of illiberal tendencies in democratic nations is now manifesting in Israel as well. Unfortunately, the opposition—if it can still be called that—remains silent, failing to mobilize to protect democracy. This means that stopping these legislative moves requires broad public pressure. Public mobilization could also encourage donor countries to exert pressure on Netanyahu’s government, which is exploiting public fatigue and the Trump-era storm to push through anti-democratic legislation.
