Israel’s Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked signed regulations yesterday designed to enact punitive financial measures against Amnesty International.
According to reports, the regulations fall under the 2011 Boycott Law, which allows for organizations supporting a boycott of Israel to be denied public funding and tax benefits.
Israel revokes tax-free status from BDS supporting organizations: New regulations signed by Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked on Thursday are specifically to be used against Amnesty International. https://t.co/k58DgVVYW8 JPost pic.twitter.com/lpRv3bUjT8
— Jewish Community (@JComm_NewsFeeds) March 7, 2019
The report notes that,
“The administrative sanctions have never been imposed, following a Supreme Court ruling requiring that certain alterations be made in the implementation process – alterations which have not been made.”
Amnesty International has been fiercely attacked by Israeli politicians in recent times, on account of the global rights organization’s support for a ban on goods made in illegal West Bank settlements.
Foreign companies are contributing to, and profiting from the development of Israel’s settlements in the OPT, which are illegal under international law and cause human rights violations. @amnesty is calling for @OHCHR to publish its database of companies https://t.co/nroEG84pID pic.twitter.com/NJMOwR5ZjP
— Sabrina Tucci (@sabrinatucci) March 8, 2019
Shaked said recently:
“The boycott regulations will give the State of Israel the tools to fight its enemies and its boycotts from within and without. The boycott law passed in 2011 stood as an unfinished stone until now.”
She added:
“I will continue to fight in any way with boycott organizations and BDS that are working to delegitimize the State of Israel. I will not allow anyone to undermine the State of Israel and the Israel Defense Forces by taking advantage of funding or assistance from the state.”
#Israeli settlements are illegal and have a devastating impact on #Palestinians. Sign now and urge @TripAdvisor CEO @kaufer to pull out of settlements https://t.co/ySRc26fzzl @Israel @IsraeliPM @amnesty @amnestyusa @amnestypress @TripAdvisorB2B @TripAdvisorUK @GoTripAdvisor @UN
— Junaed Kabir (@xunaed) March 8, 2019
Israeli authorities have decided to strip Amnesty of its tax benefit, to which end,
“the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Strategic Affairs joined together and drafted regulations under the Boycott Law.”
After being finalized and approved by the Ministry of Finance and the Minister of Finance, Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked signed a document to implement the regulations, which must now pass to the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee for final approval.
(MEMO, PC, Social Media)
