AJC Challenges Israeli Anti-Boycott Law

[Ari Gordon <gordona@ajc.org>]

>AJC Challenges Israeli Anti-Boycott Law

July 13, 2011 - New York - AJC expressed deep misgivings over the new law,  
passed by the Knesset this week, on boycotts against Israel. The controvers ial 
measure will allow Israelis to sue those who instigate or support such  
boycotts.
 
"Our organization has been at the forefront globally confronting the insidi ous 
activities of the BDS movement that seek to undermine the very legitima cy of 
the State of Israel," said AJC Executive Director David Harris. "But  this 
Knesset action, which challenges freedom of expression in Israel, is n ot the 
appropriate answer to the BDS campaign."
 
Israeli opponents of the law will likely contest the measure in the Israeli  
Supreme Court. It is highly desirable that the court rule quickly on the l 
egality of this measure.
 
The new law states that any boycott against Israel or any group located wit hin 
its territory, including the West Bank, will be labeled a civil offense  and 
its initiators will be subject to litigation. Targets of economic, cul tural or 
academic boycotts will be able to sue the boycott supporters. In a ddition, the 
law authorizes the state to revoke tax privileges and public f unding from any 
institution, group or person that backs a boycott.
 
"The anti-boycott law is undemocratic. It ironically has already harmed, ra 
ther than helped, our community's overall efforts to defeat those groups wh o 
challenge Israel's legitimacy," said Harris.

>Posted by:
>Ari M. Gordon
>Special Advisor, Interreligious
>and Intergroup Relations
>American Jewish Committee
>165 E56th Street
>New York, NY 10022
>(212)891-6717