Israeli Academic Extremism
Knesset at Long Last
Taking Action against Tenured Traitors; Plans to Impose Large Fines
on Academics calling for Boycott of Israel
According to the proposal, a group or a person
who was harmed by a boycott on behalf of Israeli elements will be
able to sue the boycott organizer or party promoting it for NIS
30,000 ($7,756.35) without the burden of proof of damage. In
addition, the party will also be able to gain an additional sum
through a civil suit in accordance with the level of damage it
sustained.
The bill's initiators noted a similar law
exists in the United States which forbids American citizens from
taking part in boycotts of friendly countries, including Israel. The
bill aims to target elements in the Arab sector which participate in
the economic boycott imposed by the Palestinian Authority on goods
manufactured in Israeli factories in the settlements and Israeli
territory. The bill also aims to deter academics who participate in
international academic boycotts of Israel.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3919986,00.html
Knesset promotes anti-boycott bill
Legislative body approves in preliminary reading bill aimed at
deterring Israeli citizens from taking part in economic or academic
boycotts of Israel
Zvi Lavi
07.14.10
The Knesset on Wednesday approved in a
preliminary hearing a bill meant to deter Israelis from taking part
in boycotts of
Israel. The bill is slated to apply to anyone who will initiate
or promote a boycott of individuals, factories, companies or
organizations in all Israeli territories, apart from the West Bank.
The vote was virtually unanimous.
The bill was drafted under a joint initiative of coalition and
opposition leaders - Knesset members Zeev Elkin (Likud)
and Dalia Itzik (Kadima).
According to the proposal, a group or a person who was harmed by
a boycott on behalf of Israeli elements will be able to sue the
boycott organizer or party promoting it for NIS 30,000 ($7,756.35)
without the burden of proof of damage. In addition, the party will
also be able to gain an additional sum through a civil suit in
accordance with the level of damage it sustained.
The bill's initiators noted a similar law
exists in the United States which forbids American citizens from
taking part in boycotts of friendly countries, including Israel. The
bill aims to target elements in the Arab sector which participate in
the economic boycott imposed by the Palestinian Authority on goods
manufactured in Israeli factories in the settlements and Israeli
territory. The bill also aims to deter academics who participate in
international academic boycotts of Israel.
Restricted to Israelis only
The original bill was meant to apply to Palestinian elements in
the territories who initiate or participate in boycotts, however the
clause was omitted during the drafting of the bill.
The bill will therefore be restricted to Israeli elements only.
Coalition chairman MK Elkin said that the wall-to-wall support
for the bill proves that the MKs recognize the need to maintain a
balance between democratic rights and prevention of direct damage to
Israeli groups.
The next vote on the matter will be held after the Knesset's
summer recess ends.
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