Lieberman: Court should steer clear of Boycott Law
Yisrael Beiteinu chair pleased with passing of controversial legislation, says 'everyone adopting our views'
Lieberman told reporters that there is great importance in "separating between (state) authorities".
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Lieberman expressed hope that the Coalition will support the bill, which the party plans to bring to a vote on Wednesday in one week's time.
"From the moment the Boycott Law passed, there was no longer any reason to continue to delay the issue of the establishment of inquiry commissions," he said, adding that he hopes the Coalition will impose party discipline and order members to vote in favor.
If the government does not support the bill, Lieberman warned, in the aftermath of the controversy over the Boycott Law, "we will see it as a blow to the Yisrael Beiteinu faction".
Faction members already feel maltreated by the government's refusal to promote certain bills while extolling others.
"Some of our bills have passed but there are some that are stuck or being blocked by Netanyahu because of public criticism. This could create problems," one member said.
But Lieberman appeared pleased Wednesday at the relative success enjoyed by his party. "At first we were alone in the battle, but today everyone is adopting our views," he said.
Kadima sanctions abstaining members
"The issue of boycotts is important," he explained. "It has been plaguing us since the Arab boycott, after the Yom Kippur War, and until the recent academic and economic boycotts in recent years.
"As foreign minister I have gained a lot of support from various countries that oppose boycotts against Israel, so it would be strange for me to ask others to do what we don't do ourselves. I cannot accept the idea of a boycott against the theater in Ariel and cheese in Nokdim."
Meanwhile Kadima has decided to fight against Yisrael Beiteinu's momentum. The faction's discipline committee decided Wednesday to impose sanctions on two MKs, who failed to toe the party line on the vote over the law by intentionally abstaining due to "conscientious reasons".
The committee determined that MK Otniel Schneller will cease to serve as a member of the Knesset State Control Committee and the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee for a period of six months.
As for MK Yulia Shamalov-Berkovich, it was decided that she would cease to be a member of the Knesset's Committee for Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs and denied the right to submit bills for a period of six months.
Schneller, who resides in a settlement, said his family "has a right to earn a living" while Shamalov Berovich explained that the law imposes order where it is desperately needed.
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