Leftist groups unite to stop Knesset boycott bill

[LeftishBrit]

http://www.jpost.com/VideoArticles/Video/Article.aspx?id=228611

A coalition of leftist groups will demonstrate outside the Justice Ministry on Sunday in an effort to prevent the passage of the “Boycott Bill,” which is expected to be voted into law by the Knesset the next day.

The legislation, sponsored by coalition chairman Ze’ev Elkin (Likud), allows citizens to bring civil suits against people and organizations that call for economic, cultural or academic boycotts against Israel, Israeli institutions, or “regions under Israeli control.”

...A spokesman for the Coalition of Women for Peace, which is organizing Sunday’s rally, said the legislation could still be defeated, because there are MKs in the coalition who oppose it..


“I am for freedom of expression, but individual freedoms don’t give anyone the right to harm someone else,” Elkin said. “Boycotts harm people. I fight for the right of people to say what they think, even if they are criticizing our policies in Judea and Samaria, but it’s different if they say to harm someone because they live in Judea and Samaria.”

[LeftishBrit]

1. As you all know, I oppose boycotts of Israel...

but 'Israeli institutions or regions under Israeli control'? This could be used to mean almost anything!

And it is wrong to suppress freedom of speech by people who support any nonviolent tactic, however much one may oppose the tactic.

"individual freedoms don’t give anyone the right to harm someone else"

If one means economic rather than physical harm, then yes, they do have the *right*. For example: I consider that every time people vote Tory (or Republican, etc.) , or express support for harsh economic cuts, then they are supporting harm to poor and vulnerable people. They are supporting harm to people who live in particular regions of a country; e.g. the North of England. They are supporting harm to those whom they consider as 'workshy', but I would consider as vulnerable, disabled or needy. I consider such policies as abhorrent BUT people have a right to vote for or express support for such policies; otherwise democracy ceases to be democracy, and you end up like the old Soviet Union.

The same applies here.

And as a Likud MK, would Elkin feel the same concerns about people supporting actions and policies that would harm Arab or far-left citizens of Israel as he does about the settlers? I hope so, but I doubt it.