The leader of Meretz Zehava Gal-On accused Avigdor Lieberman, the creator of the party Yisrael Beytenu, of being an agent of the Government of Azerbaijan, during a debate in the Knesset.

The National Assembly, the Knesset, agreed at first reading the draft law submitted by the Foreign Agents chairman of the party Yisrael Beytenu Robert Ilatoy.

The bill was tabled as an amendment to the charter of government transparency, and require that each NGO that receives foreign government funds make the declaration. Each quarter, the organization will submit a report to the register of foreign agents.

In addition, all publications of the NGOs will include the term “foreign agent” next to the name of the group, and the funds received from foreign governments will henceforth exempt from taxation.

The project includes exceptions for higher education institutions and hospitals.

The member of the Knesset Ilatov explained that “given the situation of the state of Israel today there are dozens of organizations supported by foreign governments in exchange for promises to promote foreign interests. Sometimes these interests are completely in conflict with those of the state of Israel.

He continued, “My law will give the opportunity to end this activity if it does not pay or it is useless. It is time to face and fight these moles that are trying to harm and destroy Israel from within. “

The bill faced opposition from leftist parties; one in particular Knesset member Zehava Gal-On (Meretz), who accused the leader of Yisrael Beytenu, Avigdor Lieberman, of being a foreign agent for Azerbaijan.

“The party Yisrael Beytenu is a foreign agent of the Government of Azerbaijan and receives benefits from it …. When Liberman was Foreign Minister, he favored the Azerbaijani national companies. You act to prevent the recognition of the Armenian Holocaust because you are agents of the government of Azerbaijan. You dare speak of the obligation of transparency and pretend to require civil society organizations? You will need to respond to the police. “

Lieberman responded by saying: “Zehava Gal-On was heard by the police for 12 hours on doubts about the disappearance of tens of thousands of dollars which she was the Executive Director. She also received € 60,000 ($ 67,000) for a conference that never took place. The prosecutor who filed the case, under the pressure of these organizations, said the case was closed for lack of evidence, not for lack of guilt. You were little and you will remain small.

Galon retorted: “You were corrupted and you will remain corrupt.”

Translation: Gilbert Béguian