David Bitan
Photo: Knesset Spokesman
Coalition chairman's bill to ban Israelis from speaking at international agencies
MK David Bitan is seeking to prevent Israelis from addressing international bodies like the UN and imposing sanctions on those who do, claiming that limiting the venues for free expression does not limit the freedom of expression.
The Knesset's winter session will open in a fortnight with a controversial agenda item: Coalition Chairman David Bitan (Likud) will be supporting a new bill that would forbid Israelis from appearing before international bodies with operational authorities and also forbid calls against Israel and implementing sanctions on those who do.
Bitan, trained as a lawyer, announced on Friday that he is considering revoking the citizenship of B'Tselem Executive Director Hagai El-Ad, following his speech last week before the UN Security Council in which he attacked Israeli policy and called on the council to take immediate action to end the occupation.
The MK emphasized that there is no current legal precedent to revoke El-Ad's citizenship, but added, "There is a legal way that I'm still looking into. I'll tell you bluntly, if I were the Interior Minister I would revoke his citizenship."
El-Ad addressing the UN
The bill, when it is presented to the Knesset, is likely to be controversial even inside the coalition itself. Bitan claims that it would not be a blow to freedom of expression, as opinions would be permitted at any other forum.
Members of the opposition has already condemned the bill. Yoel Hasson (Zionist Union) said on Friday evening, "David Bitan's laws will bring international sanctions on Israel. Likud MKs play around with wacky and marginal bills, most of which are bad jokes—parliamentary farces. But Bitan advocates dangerous legislation that will undermine the democratic foundations of Israel and will result in sanctions and hostility from the free world towards it. It is unfortunate that we don't have a responsible prime minister who knows how to deal with the insanity seizing our government."
