Israel's anti-boycott belligerence

[cali]

A bill seeking to outlaw boycotts of Israeli institutions and products – including in settlements – is diplomatically explosive


A new "anti-boycott bill", the third in a series of proposed laws that aim to curtail the ability of civil society to criticise Israeli government policy, will punish Israelis or foreign nationals who initiate or promote a boycott of Israel.

The bill not only prohibits boycotts of legal Israeli institutions, but also of settlement activities and products. It seeks to impose fines on Israelis who "promote boycotts" and transfer the fines to boycotted organisations.

It will impose a 10-year entry ban on foreign residents engaging in boycotts, and forbid them to carry out any economic activities in Israel.

Heavy sanctions will also be imposed on "foreign political entities" engaging in boycotts. Any government promoting a boycott will be "prohibited from carrying out any action in Israeli bank accounts, in shares traded in Israel, in land or in any other property requiring registration of transfer", and no money or property will be transferred from Israel to that government.

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jun/30/israel-anti-boycott-bill