Israel edges towards stripping Amnesty's tax-exempt status following apartheid report

Israel is edging towards stripping Amnesty International of its tax-exempt status following its historic finding that Israel was perpetrating apartheid against Palestinians.

The global rights group made the determination in a report released on Tuesday, which crucially found apartheid existed even within Israel's own borders.

The Israeli parliament's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee is looking to consider rules that would strip Amnesty operations in Israel of tax-exempt status, according to the Israel Hayom paper.

The proposed measures were pushed through to this stage when on Saturday Gideon Saar, the country's justice minister, gave the okay at the behest of Avigdor Lieberman, the finance minister.

Israel is also seeking to limit Amnesty's access to platforms within the country by using a law that targets those who boycott or have made statements urging others to boycott Israel.

Amnesty's finding of apartheid mirrors similar conclusions drawn by Human Rights Watch and Israeli NGO B'Tselem last year.

Palestinian rights groups have long accused Israel of apartheid.