Israel voted a law banning organizations that criticize the state and the army - to enter schools

The Israeli Parliament passed a law authorizing the Minister of Education to ban any organization criticizing an Israeli state or army to enter schools

The law passed on Tuesday in Knesset was immediately the target of an activist claiming to be a blow to democracy and free speech and to further delegitimize non-governmental organizations. According to law, the Minister of Education and Head of the Jewish-Nationalist Jewish Party Naftali Bennett may forbid access to schools and talks with students - groups that "actively promote legal or international political action to take something out of Israel against the soldiers of the Israeli Defense Forces ... or against the State of Israel" .

The law called the 'Silence Act' is considered to be the target of an Israeli nonprofit whistleblower. The left-wing group has released testimonies of Israeli veterans on the military abuse of Palestinians. "This is really about trying to undermine and conceal what has been happening in occupied territories for 51 years," said director of the group Avner Gvaryahu. "This attempt to mute will not hide the student's interest, but shows how Bennett and his friends are scared by their own ideology. Want to close us? Stop occupation. "

Bennett, who co-sponsored the bill, was deeply disturbed by that organization, accusing him of the damage it caused to Israel's reputation abroad. "The reality in which organizations that undermine the legitimacy of the state of Israel and defamers of the IDF soldiers can reach schoolchildren ended today. Breaking silence has long gone beyond the bounds of legitimate dialogue when they have decided to deceive the state of Israel on an international scene, "he said after the bill.

"As long as they work against the State of Israel and the IDF, I will not allow them to work in the education system. Do you want to work? Act at home. In the education system, such attitudes will not affect the beliefs of future generations "- he added. Tamer Zandberg, the leader of the left-wing Meretz, expressed his support to the Breaking the Silence organization on Twitter, stressing that the organization "is not against IDF soldiers, but IDF soldiers." "Instead of closing our eyes and hoping that reality will disappear, we must simply end the occupation," the group wrote.

Activists are also afraid that the law pertaining to anyone who criticizes the Israeli government or the IDF at the international forum will be far more far-reaching.

• 20 Jul, 2018
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