Knesset, Jerusalem 31 October, 2011 (Photo: Reuters)
Hardline and ultra-nationalist lawmakers in Israel are stepping up a legislative campaign that critics say targets leftist non-governmental groups, judges and reporters, ignoring warnings about the impact to Israel's democracy.
On Sunday, rightwing lawmakers won approval from a government committee for two bills that stand to limit funding to Israeli NGOs that oppose the occupation and settlement in the Palestinian territories.
And on Monday, the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is to submit to parliament legislation changing the composition of the panel that designates Supreme Court justices, which critics charge is an attempt to bring right-leaning judges into the court.
Next week, the parliament will consider another law giving lawmakers, most of whom currently hail from rightwing parties, a veto on the nomination of Supreme Court judges.
Critics say both laws are attempts by ultra-nationalist and ultra-Orthodox lawmakers to rein in the Supreme Court.
Others in parliament are hoping to target what they term the "anti-national" behaviour and spirit of certain Israeli journalists with a new law on defamation.
Critics say the slew of legislation is a clear attempt by the rightwing majority in the Knesset to stifle a left-leaning minority.
"This is nothing more and nothing less than the establishment of a dictatorship of the majority via a triple offensive" against NGOs, the judiciary and freedom of the press, judicial commentator Moshe Negbi told Israeli public radio on Monday.
Yediot Aharanot, Israel's best-selling daily, on Monday ran a front-page commentary by acclaimed commentator Nahum Barnea entitled "They don't want democracy."
"They are tired of the rules of Western democracy. It was never to their taste. Now, they have decided to destroy it," he wrote.
The series of proposed laws come after controversial legislation was passed this summer making it an offence to call for a boycott of Israel or its settlements.
The laws on NGO funding would target organisations which seek "to influence Israel's diplomatic and security agenda" or to carry out political activities, according to an explanatory note.
The author of one of the bills calls it a response to "the incitement activities of organisations acting under the cover of 'human rights groups'."
The first law would cap donations from foreign governments and international organisations like the United Nations at 20,000 shekels ($5,400, 3,940 euros) a year. The second bill would levy a 45 percent tax level on such donations.
By targeting funding from governments and international organisations, the bills stand to affect the flow of money to left-leaning groups without endangering the donations from foreign individuals and private groups that help keep afloat rightwing Israeli organisations, including those promoting Jewish settlement.
The legislation, which passed a first hurdle on Sunday by gaining the approval of a government committee—Netanyahu and 10 ministers endorsed the two bills, five voted against—has caused an uproar among civil society groups, jurists and much of the Israeli parliament.
There is still a long path ahead for the bills, which will be merged into one and presented to the committee for a second vote, before going to the Knesset for a preliminary reading then three rounds of votes.
But even Netanyahu's own national security advisor Yaakov Amidror, considered a hawk, is reportedly opposed to the legislation, in large part because of the negative reaction it has garnered from European officials.
And on Monday, Knesset chief Reuven Rivlin warned that "this wave of laws threatens the foundations of democracy at a time when Israel should demonstrate its democratic character to the world."
Opposition chief Tzipi Livni, head of the centrist Kadima party, said the bills "reflect the tendency of the government to stifle internal criticism and confuse patriotism and ultra-nationalism."
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