Minister of Strategic Affairs Gilad Erdan addressed Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon and called on him to stop granting tax benefits to Amnesty International.

In his letter, Erdan noted that the organization “Amnesty International” is an organization that promotes delegitimization and boycotts against the State of Israel and IDF soldiers. The organization is conducting a wide and ongoing campaign calling on countries and international companies to boycott products from Yehuda and Shomron under the title ‘Israeli Occupation: 50 Years of Settlement.’ Amnesty International also accuses Israel of committing war crimes through the settlement enterprise and calls for investigations against Israeli officials and in light of recent events on the Gaza border, on 27 April 2018, Amnesty International issued a statement calling for an arms embargo on Israel.”

Minister Erdan noted that Amnesty’s declared participation in the boycott campaign has become part of the BDS movement, a movement that rejects the existence of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state unequivocally.

At the end of the month, Amnesty International’s approval as a public institution for contributions under Section 46 of the Income Tax Ordinance will expire. The Law for the Prevention of Harm to the State of Israel through Boycott, 5771-2011 states that the Minister of Finance may decide on a person who knowingly publishes a public call for a boycott of the State of Israel, may refuse to renew its tax-exempt status under Section 46 of the Income Tax Ordinance.”

In his letter, Minister Erdan calls on Minister Kahlon to “refrain from renewing Amnesty International’s approval and to take action to deny the funding and tax benefits of any organization calling for a boycott of the State of Israel. We must not give presents to organizations that boycott and de-legitimize the security of the state and its citizens. ”

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)