Knesset Committee Approves Bill To Tax Donations To Pro-BDS Groups

By JTA December 15, 2013

A Knesset committee approved a bill that would heavily tax foreign donations to organizations that call for a boycott of Israel.

The bill, which has spurred controversy, passed the Ministerial Committee on Legislation on Sunday by an 8-4 vote.

The measure taxes at 45 percent foreign donations to nonprofit foundations and organizations whose directors or managers have publicly expressed support for a boycott, divestment or sanctions against Israel or denies Israel’s existence as a Jewish and democratic state.

Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein has called the bill unconstitutional and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni has vowed to fight it.

The bill was proposed by Ayelet Shaked of the Jewish Home party and Robert Ilatov of Yisrael Beiteinu.

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