MOSCOW (Sputnik) —The European Commission has called a new Israeli law on foreign-funded non-governmental organizations (NGOs) a threat to Israel's democratic values and urged the country to refrain from any actions that could undermine freedom of expression in public.
"Israel enjoys a vibrant democracy, freedom of speech and a diverse civil society which are an integral part of the values which Israel and the EU both hold dear. This new legislation risks undermining these values. We call upon Israel to continue to promote its active NGO sector and to refrain from actions which may complicate the space in which civil society organizations operate and which may curtail freedom of expression and association," the EC statement reads.
The controversial law has generated a wave of criticism from Israeli nonprofit organizations that described it as a deeply anti-democratic move.
