According to Israeli news outlets the bill to prohibit initiating, promoting, assisting or providing information for a boycott against Israel or against illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank has been given preliminary approval by Israel’s parliament, the Knesset. It must undergo three more readings in order to pass into law.
The bill was approved for a vote by the Ministerial Committee for Legislation on Sunday 11 July, on condition that it undergoes some modifications before reaching a first reading.
The government has requested that a section of the bill proposing sanctions against foreign political entities engaging in boycotting be struck off, leaving only a prohibition on Israelis’ supporting boycotts, and a fine for those violating the law.
The original draft of the bill also prohibits foreign residents from boycotting and imposes a 10-year entry ban on violators of the law, but it is unclear whether the government has requested the deletion of that section as well.
In an interview to Israeli news outlet Walla!, MK Arieh Eldad of the National Union Party insisted that the Knesset had voted on the original draft of the bill in its entirety and said it was for the Knesset to decide what the final version will be.
It is as yet unclear whether the bill will proceed to further stages of legislation before the Knesset breaks for summer recess at the end of July. It reconvenes in October.
To read the original draft bill see http://www.jnews.org.uk/news/new-bill-seeks-to-outlaw-…
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