Dear Friends,
We are reaching out with deep concern over a dangerous new legislative development that threatens Combatants for Peace and other peace and human rights organizations in Israel.
The Israeli government’s Ministerial Committee for Legislation has just approved a bill that amends the Law of Associations (1980), imposing severe financial and operational restrictions on NGOs receiving funding from foreign governmental entities. If passed, this bill will dramatically limit our ability to operate, silencing voices for peace, human rights, and binational cooperation.
This bill doesn’t just restrict funding, it also seeks to bar NGOs from accessing judicial review in matters concerning human rights and petitions against governmental entities. The draft states:
“A court shall not consider any request submitted by an NGO whose primary funding comes from a foreign state entity if it is not funded by the state.”
This means that NGOs that rely on international funding - the vast majority of Israeli human rights organizations - would lose their ability to petition Israeli courts. This is a direct assault on democracy, stripping civil society of one of its most important tools to protect human rights.
Why This Matters
❌ It shuts down legal challenges to human rights violations, denying justice to those who need it most.
❌ It silences civil society, cutting off international support for organizations working toward peace, justice, and equality.
❌ It undermines democracy by giving the government unchecked power to restrict dissenting voices.
❌ It will deepen and entrench the occupation by removing one of the last remaining checks on government policies that perpetuate human rights abuses and violence.
What This Means for Palestinians
🚫 More land grabs & demolitions – With fewer legal challenges, Israel will be free to expand settlements and confiscate Palestinian land at an even faster rate.
🚫 More settler and military violence – Without accountability mechanisms, attacks on Palestinian communities will escalate unchecked.
🚫 Less international awareness – Human Rights organizations will be silenced, making it harder to expose the occupation’s daily realities.
🚫 An end to grassroots peace efforts – Groups like Combatants for Peace, which bring Israelis and Palestinians together for nonviolent action, will lose vital support.
What We Ask of You:
1️⃣ Issue a Diplomatic Statement
Publicly condemn the bill as an attack on democracy, civil society, and human rights.
Reaffirm Europe’s commitment to supporting human rights organizations and democratic values.
2️⃣ Engage Directly with Israeli Leadership
Urgently raise concerns in direct meetings with Israeli government officials.
Demand that the bill be withdrawn, emphasizing its severe diplomatic consequences.
3️⃣ Support At-Risk NGOs and Civil Society Leaders
Ensure European diplomatic presence at NGO offices, court hearings, and protests to signal support.
Offer increased financial and logistical backing to affected organizations.
4️⃣ Advocate for Palestinian Access to Justice
Speak out against the provision that bars NGOs from filing petitions to Israeli courts - a move that will severely restrict Palestinians’ ability to challenge forced displacement, settlement expansion, and military abuses.
Demand that Israel uphold international legal standards protecting human rights defenders.
5️⃣ Leverage EU Influence
Work with EU institutions, member states, and international bodies to escalate diplomatic pressure.
Explore potential policy and funding consequences if Israel proceeds with this anti-democratic measure.
This bill is not just about restricting Israeli NGOs - it is a direct attack on Palestinian rights, access to justice, and the movement for peace. By crippling civil society, the Israeli government would be ensuring that military occupation and settler expansion continue unchecked, with fewer obstacles to resistance.
There is a possibility that this bill will reach the Knesset on Wednesday for the vote, so it's time to act. Together, we can defend the right to co-resist oppression, advocate for peace, and build a just future for all.
In solidarity,
Combatants for Peace
