Israelis inciting anti-Israel boycotts could soon be forced to pay dearly

Knesset approves in initial reading bill that would allow targets of boycotts to sue boycotters for large sums.

By Jonathan Lis, HAARETZ

The Knesset approved on Wednesday an initial reading of a bill calling for heavy fines to be imposed on Israeli citizens who initiate or incite boycotts against Israel. If approved into law, the fines would apply to anyone boycotting Israeli individuals, companies, factories, and organizations.

In the U.S. there is a law forbidding Americans from participating in boycotts on U.S. allies, including Israel. “It appears that in light of the reality in Israel, we need a similar law that applies to Israeli citizens,” said the bill’s sponsors – coalition chairman Zeev Elkin (Likud), MK Arieh Eldad (National Union) and MK Dalia Itzik (Kadima).

Under the new law, any group could sue damages of up to NIS 30,000 from anyone who launched a boycott against them, or incited a boycott, without having to prove that damage was indeed caused. An additional sum could then be demanded once damages were proven.

The bill comes in response to a wide range of boycotts – financial, academic, and others – that have recently been encountered in Israel. Elkin said Tuesday that “we mustn’t accept boycotts against Israel, whether academic or economic. The state must protect itself from the increasing processes of delegitimization, and provide compensation to those harmed by it.”

“The wall-to-wall support of this bill proves that members of Knesset recognize the need to maintain a balance between democratic rights and the premeditated targeting of Israeli bodies,” Elkin went on to say.

July 14, 2010 | 4 Comments »

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  1. There is one idiotic academic in Israel, with tenure, who advises the world to boycott Israeli acdemics. If tenure is meant to protect the right of free speech, then by what right does this lout call for a boycott of all his colleagues so that they can not have free speech?
    What a wanker.

  2. Who is going to sue the US Gov. over suspected violations of it’s own laws? Anybody know a good Jewish Lawyer?

  3. email

    Palestinian Authority declared and is aggressively implementing boycott of Israeli
    companies and products in violation of the Oslo Agreement.

    During the mid-1970’s the United States adopted two laws that seek to counteract the
    participation of U.S. citizens in other nation’s economic boycotts or embargoes.
    These “antiboycott” laws are the 1977 amendments to the Export Administration Act
    (EAA) and the Ribicoff Amendment to the 1976 Tax Reform Act (TRA).
    Objectives:
    The antiboycott laws were adopted to encourage, and in specified cases, require U.S.
    firms to refuse to participate in foreign boycotts that the United States does not
    sanction. They have the effect of preventing U.S. firms from being used to implement
    foreign policies of other nations which run counter to U.S. policy.
    Therefore, US Government must cut all ties with PA and PLO including, but not limited
    to, financial support, political support, military support, etc.

    Secondly, In February, 2009, in the middle of a great economic crunch, Obama sent $900
    million to Gazans or should I say Hamas. (“Obama and Hamas “ by Ted Belman,
    https://www.israpundit.org/archives/23699#more-23699, Jerusalem, Israel).
    Providing Hamas with millions of dollars annual financial support, Obama violates
    Material Support Law 18 U.S.C. § 2339B “Providing material support or resources to
    designated foreign terrorist organizations”.

    These are very serious violation of US Laws, including crimial act, and must be
    addressed accordingly. Impeach Obama.

  4. Israelis inciting anti-Israel boycotts could soon be forced to pay dearly Knesset approves in initial reading bill that would allow targets of boycotts to sue boycotters for large sums.

    Suing is good, but making the bastards drink salt water until their tongues swell up like cantaloupes would be so much more satisfying.