Speeding down the slippery slope

More misrepresentation from the inimitable Millis. Take a few minutes to actually read the legislation before you misrepresent what it says. You can stand up in Zion Square and call us settlers what ever you want no one will stop you - we suffer many fools gladly. However if you as an Israeli academic choose publicly to call for the boycott of a fellow academic working say in Ben Gurion University and with whose political views you do not agree simply because he is Israeli be aware that he will be entitled to sue you for any economic loss he may suffer as a consequence.

If I may add this to Joe's contribution:

A law passed by the Israeli Knesset (parliament) making it an offence to call for a boycott against the state of Israel or its West Bank settlements will have a chilling effect on freedom of expression in Israel, Amnesty International said today.

The controversial law, passed on Monday night, makes it a civil offence to call for an economic, cultural, or academic boycott of people or institutions in Israel or the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) for political reasons. Anyone making such calls could face a lawsuit and other financial penalties.

Sponsors of the bill, originally proposed in July 2010 by Knesset member and coalition chairman Ze’ev Elkin, have made it clear that one of the main aims of the law is to penalize those using boycott calls to campaign against Israel's illegal settlements in the OPT or highlight the ongoing violations of Palestinian rights caused by the settlements.

"Despite proponents’ claims to the contrary, this law is a blatant attempt to stifle peaceful dissent and campaigning by attacking the right to freedom of expression, which all governments must uphold," said Philip Luther, Amnesty International's Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa.

"The broad definition of boycott could apply to anyone seeking to use this non-violent means of dissent to criticize any individual or institution involved in human rights violations or violations of international law in Israel or the Occupied Palestinian Territories."

Promoted and supported by the Netanyanhu government, the law was passed by 47 votes to 36, even though top legal advisers to the Knesset and Israel’s Attorney General said it was "borderline illegal". Several Israeli human rights NGOs have indicated that they plan to challenge the law in Israel’s High Court of Justice.

Parties filing lawsuits would not have to prove that a call to boycott has resulted in actual damages, as courts can order people or organizations calling for a boycott to pay compensation independently of the damages caused.

The law also allows the Minister of Finance to revoke the tax-exempt status of NGOs calling for a boycott, which threatens the funding on which many Israeli human rights NGOs rely. Companies or organizations participating in a boycott could also be disqualified from applying for government contracts.

This is only one of many laws recently passed or being considered by the Knesset which have been criticized by Israeli human rights NGOs for restricting freedom of expression, the work of Israeli civil society organizations, or the rights of Palestinian citizens and their political representatives.

Israel's policy of establishing settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, violates the Fourth Geneva Convention and is considered a war crime, according to the statute of the International Criminal Court.

This is a below line post to the Ha'aretz report

"Since Yeshayahu Leibowitz the term “fascist” is used on a regular basis by Jews to describe Israeli politics. The Likudniks are called totalitarians, the rabbis are called racists, our soldiers are called Judeo-Nazis. It is an inflationary term, used by polit-clowns who are playing verbal theatre in order to provoke but has nothing to do with reality. The fact that Burston can write what he wants belies him even more. If this government was fascist it would first and foremost silence the sh**ks. The Germans called it “Gleichschaltung”, i.e. a tight control over all aspects of society. Each reader of Haaretz may judge himself how close we are to a totalitarian society."

Suzanna
Debate is not being stifled just go to the Ha'aretz web-site and see for yourself. All that Israel is doing is creating a level playing field. What Israel is saying to Israeli detractors is "On the one hand you want the right to criticise the State and on the other hand you want the right to cripple the State economically while being paid for the privilege. Well no longer" Your hysterical scaremongering to the contrary no one in Israel is being prevented from expressing their political views however abhorrent they may be so long as they are not racist. If it is illegal under Israeli Law to boycott Arabs why should it not be illegal to boycott Jews? Anti-semites may have problems answering that question.

"violates the Fourth Geneva Convention and is considered a war crime, according to the statute of the International Criminal Court" bunkum besides which it is nonsense!!!

No - you are incorrect. It's illegal to boycott the settlements (which are already apartheid in nature as they and the entire infrastructure that supports them is for one group of people only)

Why, for example, can courts order people or organizations calling for a boycott to pay compensation independently of the damages caused?
In order to silence protest perhaps?

It's an anti democratic law specifically designed to silence the debate over the occupation, the injustice and the brutality meted out on the Palestinians.

I suggest you read the legislation before you make allegations. You can criticise the Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria all you like - all I hear are well worn diatribes we have been hearing from the extreme left for years now and you will suffer no penalty as I have said we suffer fools gladly. However if as an Israeli NGO which obtains tax breaks from the Israeli Government you call for the economic boycott of another Israeli institution or individual then do not be surprised if you lose that tax break and/or face legal proceedings. Should an ostensibly charitable organisation in the UK be entitled to call for the repatriation of all non-whites and still be entitled to charitable status? Israel disputes that the settlements are illegal there is binding legal authority to support this view it is therefore not s black and white as you make out. As such it is the "boycotters" who are stifling the debate by threatening economic damage on Israel if their view is not accepted - well no longer.

"Companies or organizations participating in a boycott could also be disqualified from applying for government contracts"

Do you actually read what you write - why would a company participating in a boycott want to apply for a government contract and if they are so participating why should Israel award them one? Sigh!