JC gets its facts wrong

Yes, it has, Hoffman. In a democracy, non-violent protests, such as boycotts or calling for one are allowed. Do you want to outlaw non-violent protests, too? It's an issue for the individual and his or her conscience, not for the state. Anyway, it's good that the settlers are scared that that they are losing support that they and their backers abroad need to resort to such measures. Let them feel the heat. Israel may start to pay the price for their hubris. And then Israelis might start to question the wisdom of acquiescing in the occupation. It's when large numbers of good decent, white South Africans started to feel embarrassed that apartheid fell. And SA had laws like this, too. Mick Davis was right. Israel is sliding towards apartheid.
But then, I bet you think the JC is craven along with Bicom, the Academic Friends of Israel and Engage. What's the ZF's line Jonathan?

I told you the ZF line. I am not repeating myself.

I haven't seen it, Hoffman. Is your line the ZF's or are you out on a limb?

Well done, JC. Join the call for boycotting the settlements and making Netanyahu PNG.

You are a rude man.

The ZF's view (below) will be in tomorrow's JC, possibly edited to shorten it.

The passing of this Bill (which makes the boycott a civil – not a criminal – offence) is hardly surprising given that the boycott represents an existential threat to Israel . Other democracies faced with existential threats have also resorted to measures which curtail normal freedoms (eg the UK ’s use of internment against suspected IRA terrorists).

A boycott is itself anti-democratic: it violates freedom of trade, freedom of association and freedom of exchange of ideas. The Knesset can hardly be blamed for making boycotters pay a price. The Supreme Court is there as a check on the Knesset’s actions if necessary. No other country in the region has such a democratic array of institutions.

No the Knesset has not "effectively silenced" the boycotters, just made it easier to insist that they bear the cost of the economic damage they cause

The damage is caused by the entity responsible for the unacceptable terms of the product, not the public's response to it. No one is entitled to ram a product down the public's throats just because there's an economic loss to the producer. Imputing this loss to the protesting public, is insane and immoral...economically immoral, among other things. By what code of conduct does Israel want to live by?

So the ZF likes it, but hopes to God the Supreme Court will save Israel and the ZF from embarrassment. Shame the ZF could not join Bicom, Engage, the ADL, mort Klein, NGO Monitor, the Academic Friends etc in taking a stand against this obscene anti-democratic and anti-Zionist law

Amazing how all the organisations you have listed Millis seem to have foregotten this
http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/triumph/tr-boycott.htm

Should not supporters of the BDS`Movement which seeks to emulate the Nazi boycott of Jewish businesses just go their website and see some of the comments face a financial penalty?

The logical extension of the Bds movement will be to take action against any company regardless which side of the line it operates from . In their fanatical quest for a one state solution the lines will be blurred . Hypothetically , these marxists could seek to shut off israels silicon valley or make conditions so difficult that business would consider relocating .
These individuals are the enemy within . So great is their hatred of israels unique Jewish status , they would not stop at west bank products .
We see the fanaticism week in week out here in the Uk
We have just seen the lengths the flotillasists go to .
Many of these reprobates are Jews . Many live in israel .
Why on earth should israel allow itself to be undermined in this fashion .
The USA has similar discretionary powers in place to prevent malign groups and individuals from committing economic havoc .
Understandably the unholy alliance between the left and the islamists are frothing at the mouth . The Act takes away one of their toys .
Israel remains the only democracy in the middle east and this does nothing to change that status .
Let the delegitimizers moan and wail . After the fiasco of the flotilla , the UCU lawsuit and the internment of Islamist hate preachers , the wheel is slowly beginning to turn .
Preventing economic vandalism is right and proper .

To the Editor:

You have got this so wrong it is painful. I suggest you read the report of Mr Netanyahu's response to the Kadima Vote of Non-confidence in today's Jerusalem Post. I trust the editorial will be amended or an addendum added - your berating of Mr Netanyahu in the circumstances does you no favours.

Secondly how do you propose to defeat an indefensible argument. You can shout from the rooftops and bring any number of proofs that Israel is not an Apartheid State and so should not be boycotted - the good it will do you. The boycotters have made up their minds and the genie is out of the bottle. In the meantime the economic damage or worse has been done.

There are those in Israel, watchful, who want to live by rules mostly seen in Damascus and Tehran. These are the zealots of the Jewish Brotherhood who believe they speak for all Jews and hope they can frighten enough of them into believing their holocaust analogies. In fact, all it does is cheapen the holocaust and makes a mockery of the six million who perished. It's their usual modus operandi and most Jews are immune to it and see it for what it is - cheap demagoguery and scare mongering.

Good on yer, Jonathan!

Calling for BDS against their own country?
That's taking democracy too far. It's treason.

I'd send them all to HMP Australia. That way they would really suffer.

"No one is entitled to ram a product down the public's throats just because there's an economic loss to the producer."

Civil penalties on boycotts don't ram products down anyones throats. They impose possible financial costs on Israeli businesses openly refusing to carry goods or services from the so called settlements, irrespective of customer demand. If everyone in a leftist neighborhood in Tel Aviv chose not to buy settlement goods, I can't see how its local businesses would wind up assessed with any penalties, because there'd be no demand, and no restraint of trade.

The key to this law is possible civil penalties for a restraint of trade.

http://thejc.com/news/israel-news/51649/backlash-israel-gags-boycotters

Look at the negative spin the JC report has put on the Knesset's measure ... My quote was cut back to practically nothing ...