A new position paper published by Mada al-Carmel– The Arab Center for Applied Social Research, authored by Sawsan Zaher, addresses the proposed amendment to the Associations Law (2024) in Israel. The Associations Bill (Amendment– Donation from a Foreign Political Entity), 2024 seeks to impose a punitive tax of 80% on donations to associations from foreign states, and to prevent these associations from petitioning the courts. The primary targets of the law are human rights organizations, Arab Palestinian associations, and associations that work to expose violations against marginalized groups by the State of Israel, particularly in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The paper argues that, although the bill threatens to constrain the activities of many associations, it would have particularly severe repercussions for Palestinian associations, the vast majority of which are reliant on donations from foreign states or entities. Moreover, the bill discriminates against certain associations on an ideological basis, since most associations that promote the government’s political agenda receive direct financial support from the state and would therefore not be harmed by the law.
The paper further suggests that, to prevent the bill from advancing further in the legislative process, mass campaigns should be launched that highlight the extent of the harm it will cause, both to the affected associations and their beneficiary groups, and should involve members of the affected groups, academics and legal experts. In parallel, a coalition of Palestinian associations should be established to work together to raise awareness and lead both popular and legal struggles against the bill, since submitting petitions and legal interventions may lead to positive intervention by the Supreme Court.
At the international level, the paper emphasizes the importance of paying particular attention to the pointed criticisms leveled by United Nations institutions and the European Union at similar legislation in countries such as Russia, Hungary, and Poland, as well as to the exceptional nature of the Israeli bill, which stands apart even among these laws, since no other country currently imposes taxes on donations to associations!
To read the position paper in English, click here
To read the position paper in Arabic, click here
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