LEFT-WING factions in Israel have disputed the legitimacy of the controversial “boycott law”, which makes it a civil offence to back a boycott of Israel or West Bank settlements.
The Knesset voted 47-38 in favour of the new law after a stormy debate on Monday night, during which opposition members accused the government of passing an anti-democratic measure.
Under the terms of the Bill, initiators of a boycott – whether it be consumer, academic or cultural – will be subject to litigation.
The law also prevents the government doing business with any company that initiates or complies with boycotts.
Gush Shalom (Peace Bloc) yesterday became the first organisation to appeal to the high court against the new law. Other left-wing groups are expected to add their names to the appeal in the coming days.
The appeal stated that the law infringed the basic principles of democracy.
“The boycott Bill is an additional layer in the attempt by Israel’s parliamentary majority to silence all criticism of government policy in general, and especially the government policy in the occupied territories, preventing open political dialogue,” the appeal stated.
In response to the new law Peace Now launched a media campaign calling for a boycott of products made in West Bank settlements. “Sue me, I’m boycotting settlement products,” read a notice on a new Facebook page, which reported thousands of hits.
Knesset member Zehava Gal-On, from the left-wing opposition Meretz party, used her parliamentary immunity to declare from the Knesset podium that she would continue to boycott goods made on settlements and then read out a list of such products.
Supporters said the boycott law was meant to counter attempts to delegitimise Israel.
“The state of Israel has for years been dealing with boycotts from Arab nations, but now we are talking about a home-grown boycott,” said Knesset member Ze’ev Elkin, from the ruling Likud party, the Bill’s sponsor.
Last year, Israeli theatre artists refused to perform at a new cultural centre in the settlement of Ariel, causing a public uproar. A group of academics said that they would not lecture at any West Bank settlement.
Palestinian officials also criticised the new law and warned it could undermine efforts to renew Israeli-Palestinian peace talks.
Opponents of the boycott law warned the measure was only the latest in a raft of legislation by the right-wing government led by Binyamin Netanyahu aimed at stifling democratic dissent.
Encouraged by Monday night’s vote, the right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu faction announced it would seek a Knesset vote next week on another controversial Bill, which seeks to set up a parliamentary panel to investigate the activities of left-wing Israeli NGOs.
The opposition labelled the initiative McCarthyism.