Legislators Investigations into:

1. funding of Israeli organizations by foreign bodies and governments. (Feb. 2010)

2. involvement of Israeli human rights organizations in providing information to the Goldstone Commission. (Feb. 2010)

3. increased scrutiny and monitoring NGOs that receive funding from foreign sources. (July 2009)

Attacks from all Sides

Right Wing Political Parties

The Press

Right Wing NGOs And Research

Criticism

Arresting Protestors During Operation Cast Lead

27.12.08 - 18.1.2009

From the beginning of the attack to its end,

around 760 Arab protestors were arrested,

more than 45%

minors.

PHR Israel’s

Convoy to Gaza

stopped

Follow the Money: Dry them OutCatch 22

• You are funded by foreign money thus you are traitors

• We will make it almost impossible for you to get Israeli funds

• You will rely more on foreign money thus you are even more of a traitor

First Signs of Attacks on NGOs (26/7/09)

• Breaking the Silence releases a report on Operation Cast Lead

• Israeli foreign ministry protests to the Dutch Embassy, asking to reconsider its funding. Other organizations are targeted as well by the same tactic.

• NGO Monitor and a military source: accusations that BTS is operating without transparency

“…dozens of Israeli nonprofits, we feel that groups like this that are not listed [as an amuta] raises a lot of red flags,” (Prof. Gerald Steinberg)

• BTS presents The Jerusalem Post with its donor list for 2008, which included several European governments.

NGO Monitor Accuses NGOs of Being Informants to Goldstone:

• B’Tselem, Adalah, ACRI, Gisha, PHR-I, and Yesh Din have continued supporting Goldstone and lobbying governments to legitimize the report’s extreme biases and endorse its recommendations

• NIF-funded groups featured centrally in Goldstone report… Many citations seeking to brand Israeli democracy as “repressive.”

• Some NIF grantees campaign against the legitimacy of Israel as a Jewish democratic state.

IM Tirtzu (If You Will It) the agitator style

• Liars and informants• New research of Im

Tirtzu reports: a number of extremist left and anti Zionist groups were actively participating in the Goldstone report.

Im Tirtzu efforts in hampering our activities:

a) Stop Israelis who donated over $500,000 last year to NIF from claiming tax deductions on donations to any NIF-funded groups that, in its opinion, “hurt Israel.”

b) Preventing Israeli nongovernmental organizations from receiving funds from foreign governments.

The Media Joins: Ma’ariv Leads

Accusations

• Fifth Column

• Washing dirty laundry outside

• Baseless reports

Behind the Scenes

• Self censorship, Ye’diot Ahronot, and the Independent publishes it. (rules of engagement.)

The Legislators1. Constitution Law and Justice Committee: established a

sub-committee to examine the funding of Israeli organizations by foreign bodies.

2. An initiative by MK Shneler (Kadima) to establish a parliamentary commission of inquiry to examine the involvement of Israeli human rights organizations in providing information to the Goldstone Commission

3. MK Alkin law proposal to expose foreign funders (in addition to the existing procedures)

4. Proposed law endangering asylum seekers and incriminating those who provide them assistance

Response

Recomendations:• Stand up for our mission• Organized reaction• Defend Activists• Communicate directly

with members and supporters.

• Advocate in Israel • Report.

By Active Stills

How Can You Help

• Express concern to your Israeli counterparts

• Support and defend human rights work and its activists

• Alert your institutions and states and inform them on developments