- A previous article discussed it in detail, accessed through
the following link:
-
- http://sjlendman.blogspot.com/2011/07/israels-knesset-passes-boycott.html
-
- Before and after its July 11 passage, critics called
it outrageous, shameful, lawless, and anti-democratic. More on that below.
-
- In contrast, Netanyahu praised the measure, saying he
"authorized the bill. If I hadn't authorized it, it wouldn't have
gotten here. I am opposed to boycotts against Israel and boycotts against
groups within Israel."
-
- The pro-Israeli NGO Monitor (NGOM) tried having it both
ways, saying:
-
- It doesn't "see this legislation as the appropriate
means to combat the BDS movement. However, numerous NGOs have released
misleading and false statements about the new law, (including saying it)
criminalizes freedom of speech."
-
- In fact, that's precisely what it does, infringing on
the right of Israelis to speak freely on any issue without fear of recrimination.
-
- NGOM, however, called public debate about it "indicative
of the strength and vibrancy of Israeli democracy," when it exists
solely for Jews, increasingly only well-off ones, benefitting at the expense
of lower income Israelis like in America and other Western states.
-
- On June 19, the Global BDS Movement and Coalition for
Women for Peace called the bill:
-
- "one of the most dangerous anti-democratic laws
promoted in this current Knesset. Boycott is a nonviolent, legal and legitimate
means to promote social and political aims that is protected in civil rights
of freedom of expression, opinion and assembly. The bill constitutes a
fatal blow to all these civil rights."
-
- Even the racist, Islamophobic Anti-Defamation League
(ADL) issued a July 12 press release headlined, "Knesset Anti-Boycott
Law May Infringe On Basic Democratic Rights," ADL's national director
Abraham Foxman (no democracy defender) saying:
-
- It "unduly impinge(s) on the basic democratic rights
of Israelis to freedom of speech and freedom of expression."
-
- At the same time, ADL viciously assails Israeli critics,
calling Palestinian supporters anti-Semites, extremists, and radicals,
seeking to abolish the state of Israel.
-
- Along with AIPAC, the Zionist Organization of America,
and other prominent CPMAJO-listed groups, ADL has a sordid history of links
to Mossad, the FBI, CIA and Department of Homeland Security (DHS), fronting
for Israel against democratic values and equal justice for Palestinians.
-
- EU spokeswoman Catherine Ashton also tried having it
both ways, saying:
-
- "The EU recognizes Israel's sovereignty in the legislative
process. Furthermore, the EU does not advocate boycotts. However, as part
of such fundamental values as free expression and speech, (we) are concerned
about the effect that this legislation may have on the freedom of Israeli
citizens and organizations to express nonviolent political opinions."
-
- Perhaps Ashton also respects sovereign Nazi Germany's
repressive Nuremberg laws, solidifying its fascist chokehold. Moreover,
her anti-boycott position ignores Israel's illegal occupation and Gaza
blockade. EU states and America support them by failing to act against
them.
-
- On July 12, Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) writer Ron
Kampeas headlined, "From left to right, American Jews are criticizing
Israeli anti-boycott law," saying:
-
- "....American Jewish organizations seem remarkably
united in deeming the measure an affront to freedom of expression."
-
- Jewish Council for Public Affairs' director, Rabbi Steve
Gutow (also going both ways) said:
-
- "We don't support boycotts." However, "(t)he
law does challenge democracy in a way, and hopefully (Israel's) Supreme
Court will respond."
-
- Liberal Israeli NGOs and civil rights groups plan legal
action against the measure.
-
- Zionist Organization of America's (ZOA) president Morton
Klein also went both ways, saying:
-
- "Nobody was more appalled by the boycott of Ariel
(Performing Arts Center) theater than me, but to make it illegal? I don't
think so."
-
- Many US Jewish groups sharply criticized the new law,
including:
-
- -- Americans for Peace Now calling it a "flagrant
attack on freedom of speech;"
-
- -- J Street saying it's a "clear and unabashed violation
of the fundamental democratic precept of freedom of speech;" and
-
- -- the New Israel Fund saying:
- "Don't Boycott Democracy. The 'boycott bill' criminalizing
free speech is only one of many anti-democratic measures that have been
introduced in the Knesset," the most extremist body in Israel's history.
-
- Israeli peace bloc Gush Shalom founder Uri Avnery called
the bill "an assault on the freedom of expression and political association,
an attempt to gag the opposition."
-
- Its web site said it was "the first Israeli body
(in the 1990s) to lead a boycott of settlement products...." Calling
the measure "unconstitutional and anti-democratic," it petitioned
Israel's High Court to strike it down. Moreover, Avnery (a former Knesset
member) called it "a black stain on the statutes of the State of Israel.
It is my sincere hope that the court will overturn it, and save what is
left of Israeli democracy."
-
- Calling the measure "borderline illegal," Knesset
legal advisor Eyal Yinon said the law's "broad definition of a boycott
on the State of Israel is a violation of the core tenet of freedom of political
expression."
-
- Meretz Party MK called the bill "nauseating,"
saying "Right wing MKs are bringing garbage to the Knesset under the
guise of wanting o protect our national honor. I wonder if there is even
democracy in this country."
-
- In fact, Israeli "democracy" resembles Michael
Parenti's description of America, calling it the "shadier sides of....political
life (in which) proponents of the existing order have tried to transform
practically every deficiency into a strength."
-
- In fact, Israel occupies Palestine illegally. Arab citizens
are persecuted and denied rights. No constitution exists, just Basic Laws,
and Israel is the only country with no fixed borders because expansionism
is state policy.
-
- So is war, a history of violence, and defiance of human
and civil right, democratic values, as well as fundamental international
laws and dozens of critical UN resolutions.
-
- No matter. Washington affords full support, the US State
Department issuing muted anti-boycott bill criticism, saying passage was
an "Israeli internal matter," at the same time affirming "freedom
of expression, including freedom to peacefully organize protest (as) a
basic right under democracy."
-
- A Final Comment
-
- Defying the new law, Peace Now responded with a selective
boycott for the first time in its 33-year history. In addition, it set
up a Facebook group called, "So Sue Me, I'm Boycotting the Settlements."
-
- On July 14, Haaretz writers Tomer Zarchin and Jonathan
Lis headlined, "Dozens of Israeli law professors protest 'unconstitutional'
boycott law," saying:
-
- Those against it include:
-
- -- University of Haifa Law School Dean Niva Elkin-Koren;
-
- -- Ramat Gan Academic Center Law School Dean Moshe Cohen-Eliya;
- -- former Tel Aviv University Law School Deans Hanoch
Dagan, Ariel Porat, and Menachem Mautner;
-
- -- former Hebrew University Law School Dean Uriel Procaccia;
and
-
- -- former University of Haifa Law School Dean Eli Salzberger.
-
- Hebrew University's Professor Alon Harel called the new
law the "tyranny of the majority....aimed at promoting one viewpoint
and subjugating another...."
-
- Opposing the law, many doctoral candidates wanted their
names listed publicly. However, they were withheld to prevent harming their
chances for university appointments.
-
- In today's Israel, activists supporting Palestinian equity,
justice, sovereignty, ending the occupation, diaspora Palestinians' right
to return home, East Jerusalem as Palestine's capital, and boycotts of
Israeli products, services and activities until lawless practices end,
do so at considerable risk.
-
- No wonder many Israelis are voting with their feet and
leaving!
-
- Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at
lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
-
- Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and
listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive
Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central
time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy
listening.
-
- http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/.
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