BICOM

The Israeli Knesset (parliament) approved a controversial ‘boycott bill’ yesterday, which would make any boycott against Israel or any group located within its territory, including the West Bank, a civil offense, whose initiators would be subject to civil litigation. The vote was carried 47 to 38. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Ehud Barak were absent from the vote, although the bill has been backed by the Cabinet. Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin also abstained in the voting. The bill was introduced by Likud MK Zeev Elkin. The main opposition Kadima party opposed the bill. A number of NGOs, including Adalah – the Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, The Public Committee against Torture in Israel and Physicians for Human Rights announced that they would submit an appeal to the High Court against the new law, asking for it to be annulled. The groups plan to argue that the new law is anti-constitutional, impedes freedom of expression and violates international law.