- Title: MIDDLE EAST: Right-wing legislation stirs democracy debate in Israel.
- Date: 13th December 2011
- Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) OFEK BIRNHOLTZ, ISRAELI GREEN MOVEMENT, SAYING: "I think recent legislation introduced in the Knesset is very bad for Israeli democracy. It would limit freedom of speech; it would limit freedom of thought and organisation. It restricts and diminishes the Israeli democratic arena." BIRNHOLTZ WITH FRIENDS (SOUNDBITE) (English) HADAS KAISER, TEL AVIV
- Embargoed: 28th December 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Jerusalem, Israel
- City:
- Country: Israel
- Topics: Politics
- Reuters ID: LVABYWRKU5NVPCC64QT4FINKGZ54
- Story Text: Legislation proposed by right-wing Israeli lawmakers stirs debate in the country. Among proposals is one to curtail the funding by foreign governments of Israeli NGOs.
Legislation promoted by right-wing lawmakers in Israel is raising concern that democratic values are under threat in a country that has long billed itself the only democracy in the Middle East.
One bill could potentially paralyse dovish Israeli advocacy groups by imposing sharp limits on funding they receive from foreign governments, while others could deal a blow to the independence of the Supreme Court, an institution widely seen in Israel as a watchdog over civil rights.
None has been passed into law and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, under international pressure to quash some of the measures proposed by members of his Likud party, has moved to stall one of the more controversial bills.
But for Israelis who took the streets last week to rally in support of human rights, this latest trend in Israeli legislation is nothing less than frightening.
"I think recent legislation introduced in the Knesset is very bad for Israeli democracy. It would limit freedom of speech; it would limit freedom of thought and organisation. It restricts and diminishes the Israeli democratic arena," said Ofek Birnholtz of the Israeli Green Movement during the rally in Tel Aviv.
"I have to say that I'm a bit scared that in a few years -- short years -- I'm not going to live in a country that has any real democracy, just for the appearance of democracy," said Hadas Kaiser.
Backers of foreign funding restrictions for non-governmental organizations (NGOs) say the money they receive from abroad is tantamount to interference in Israel's internal affairs.
"We do want to see people giving money to Israeli NGOs, to humanitarian organisations, but to see governments which give funding to political organisations? This is unacceptable. The new legislation will allow donations to Israeli NGOs, but will stop the funding that comes from foreign governments to political organisations in Israel. I am sure that every state wouldn't like to see other country intervene in our political life," said Likud lawmaker Dani Dannon.
"We were elected on a very clear platform, to promote different values. And what we see today it's pure democracy, because what we are doing, we (are) promoting the ideology that we were elected to do," Dannon added.
Critics denounce the bill as a bid to mute left-wing and pro-Palestinian groups.
Without expressly saying so, the funding measure would mainly target leftist groups who receive most of their money from U.S. and European governments.
Many right-wing Israeli organisations are funded locally or by private donors abroad and would not be affected by most of the proposed steps, explained Political Scientist Professor Reuven Hazan of Jerusalem's Hebrew University.
"This law, had it been applied equally, could be perceived as a law that would sustain Israeli democracy from foreign intervention. But it's being applied unequally and therefore it's undermining Israeli democracy by using the majority that the current government has in order to limit the ability of the other side to oppose the government," Hazan told Reuters at his home in Mevasseret Zion, just outside Jerusalem.
"What we have in Israel right now is McCarthyism and Fascism trying to push out democracy, equal rights, minority rights. This is a battle not for the safety of Israel on its borders but for its internal security and soul," Hazan added.
After complaints from U.S. and European diplomats, Netanyahu last month appeared to bury the legislation in its present form by putting off further cabinet discussion of the proposal.
A separate bill calling for an investigation of funding for NGO passed a vote in parliament several months ago.
Also on parliament's agenda are proposals that seek to impose limits for the first time on eligibility to petition the Supreme Court, as well as to reduce the tenure period for its top judge and give lawmakers a role in vetting judicial candidates.
Yet another measure proposed by a far-right lawmaker would require all justices to have served in the Israeli military, effectively barring the country's Arab citizens from the bench. Under Israeli law, Arabs are exempted from compulsory military service.
Some analysts dismiss such proposals as attempts by Likud legislators to bolster their standing in the right-wing party as it prepares for internal elections next month that could be a harbinger of an early national election, due in 2013. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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