Jerusalem municipality panel canceled over ex-B'Tselem representative
Committee discussion entitled 'Women influence decision making?' postponed after new chairwoman discovers participation of attorney who acted as a spokesperson for B'Tselem; 'B’Tselem is an unworthy organization in my eyes.'
The Jerusalem Municipality recently canceled a panel discussion dealing with the advancement of women’s status in society due to objections raised to the participation of a human rights activist who previously served as a spokeswoman in the left-wing human rights group B’Tselem
The event, entitled “Women influence decision making?” was scheduled to take place on Tuesday evening to mark the inauguration of the city’s deputy mayor Hagit Moshe to her new position as chair of the Committee on the Status of Women and Gender Equality.
Among those invited were officials from the Justice Ministry, Director-General of the Yitzhak Shamir Medical Center Dr. Osnat Levtzion-Korach and attorney Nisreen Alyan, the former B’Tselem spokeswoman who now works at the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI).
Just before the meeting was supposed to commence, the municipality announced that the event was canceled due “health-related reasons.”
However it transpired that the actual reason stemmed from opposition voiced by Moshe to Alyan’s participation
Moshe, a member of the “Jerusalem Success” group headed by Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, said that no present or former B’Tselem activist would be welcomed to such committee meetings on her watch.
“We didn't check as we should have the spokespersons at the event. When it turned out that there was a representative of B’Tselem I decided to cancel her participation,” Moshe explained.
Nisreeen Alyan
“B’Tselem is an unworthy organization in my eyes. As long as it depends on me I will not allow its representatives to be granted a stage. Anyone who is unconcerned with IDF soldiers and slanders them cannot be given a platform on a municipal committee,” she added.
Moshe also emphasized that her opinion remained unchanged despite the fact that Alyan now works with the ACRI.
"What difference does it make? In the past, she hurt Israeli soldiers, and in my eyes she's persona non grata. We will hold another meeting on another day with other spokeswomen."
Alyan said she lamented Moshe’s decision, insisting that her involvement in human rights groups should have no bearing on the decision to proceed with or cancel the meeting.
“I worked in a human rights group in Israel to promote the rights of civil society in a democratic framework and there is nothing wrong with that. It’s regrettable that a political opinion dictates the agenda for the committee advancing women’s status,” Alyan said.
“It’s another example of a witch-hunt against civil society organizations. Unfortunately it has become a common phenomenon.”
The municipality released its own statement avoiding addressing the reasons behind the cancelation. “The municipality will set another day for the meeting. With regards to setting the agenda, this is the responsibility of the committee chair.”
The ACRI also released its own statement, decrying the fact that Alyan is to be struck from the list of participants when the panel does convene.
Echoing Alyan’s comments that it was a witch-hunt, the statement went on to blast the decision as “a continuation of the process of delegitimization of anyone who doesn’t close ranks with the regime.”
It went on to cite Alyan’s credentials, arguing that she is an asset to any panel dedicated to the advancement of human rights and equality.
“Attorney Nisreen Alyan is an expert on human rights in east Jerusalem and among the prominent human rights activists. Every respectable panel is enriched by her knowledge,” the statement read.
B’Tselem has become the subject of scrutiny and censure by the Israeli government which considers its activities to be subversive and harmful to the IDF.
Last April, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to meet with German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel after the latter went ahead with a planned meeting with B’Tselem and other left-wing organizations.
