MK Herzog strips NGO monitoring law of substance in consultation with New
Israel Fund
Dr. Aaron Lerner 24 January 2011

Makor Rishon correspondent Gil Bringer reported in the 21 January edition
that before leaving the government, then Welfare Minister MK Isaac Herzog
(Labor) neutered the NGO law proposed by MK Elkin.

Under the original law, NGO's receiving financial support from foreign
governments would have to declare that they receive such funds when they
participate in political hearings such a Knesset hearings. Herzog deleted
the requirement.

Under the original law, NGOs receiving any funding from a foreign country
were covered by the law. Herzog changed the law to cover only NGOs that
receive more than 1/3 of their funding from foreign governments.

Herzog also deleted the "penalties" section of the law so that those who
violate the law do not face criminal penalties.

In a speech to the Knesset, Herzog noted that he made the changes to the law
in consultation with a senior official in the New Israel Fund.