Netanyahu leading the fight against Israel's peace activists

[bemildred]

Right-wing parties blame Israel human rights organizations for aiding what they call 'campaign to delegitimize Israel', and have turned them into a scapegoat.

The "price tag" graffiti sprayed on the home of Hagit Ofran of Peace Now on Tuesday is part of a consistent delegitimization campaign against left-wing organizations. Virtually not a day goes by without peace activists suffering threats to their lives or damage to their property. On the eve of the 16th memorial day in honor of former Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who fell victim to a campaign of incitement by the extreme right, it seems that the lesson has not been learned.

Ministers and Knesset members have turned Israeli human rights organizations into scapegoats. The right-wing parties, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leading the band, blame these organizations for aiding what they call a "campaign to delegitimize Israel." This is their substitute for ending settlement construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which outrages all of Israel's supporters worldwide.

With the start of the Knesset's winter session, Netanyahu came out in support of a bill by his confidant, MK Ofir Akunis (Likud ), that would ban "political" nongovernmental organizations from receiving donations of over NIS 20,000 from foreign governments or international organizations. The term "political NGOs" is transparent camouflage for a law intended to stigmatize and shackle the activities of NGOs that focus on protecting the rights of minorities and monitoring the behavior of government agencies. The bill's explanatory notes state explicitly that it is intended to deal with "organizations acting in the guise of human rights organizations that seek to influence the political discourse, character and policies of the State of Israel."

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/opinion/netanyahu-leading-the-fight-against-israel-s-peace-activists-1.394468

[RockaFowler]

1. I agree with this

Even as someone who defends Israel from time to time. I am disgusted by Netanyahu. I'm not too fond of Hamas either. So I have no idea how either side will try for peace.

[peacetalksforall]

2. I am against all - on both sides - who can't think beyond an eye for an eye.

I have no respect for that strategy after all these decades of death and hate.