Shaked 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.
By LAHAV HARKOVAnti-Israel demonstrators march behind a banner of the BDS organization in Marseille, June 13.(photo credit: GEORGES ROBERT / AFP)
Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked signed new regulations removing tax breaks from organizations that support boycotting Israel, specifically to be used against Amnesty International, her office announced on Thursday.Ayelet Shaked (Credit: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post)Amnesty International has called for an arms embargo against Israel and boycotts of Israeli products, while enjoying the tax exemptions nonprofit organizations receive.The regulations Shaked signed are connected to the 2011 Anti-Boycott Law, which allows two paths to combating the BDS movement: civil lawsuits, and a government path. The government path states that organizations calling to boycott Israel or any region in Israel – meaning settlement boycotts, as well – cannot get public funding or tax breaks and their participation in public tenders will be limited.Shaked approved the regulations following a High Court of Justice ruling that said the step must be taken for the law to be implemented. The Justice Ministry, Finance Ministry and Strategic Affairs Ministry drafted the regulations together. They still need to be approved by the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee.“These regulations will give the State of Israel the tools to fight its enemies and boycotters at home and abroad,” Shaked said. “In the last year and a half, I personally took part in drafting the regulations… I will continue to fight boycott organizations and BDS, who are working to delegitimize the State of Israel.”
