Israeli parliament votes to probe funding of left-wing groups

Wed, 05 Jan 2011

Jerusalem - Capping a stormy debate, Israel's parliament voted Wednesday to set up a committee of inquiry to probe the funding of left-wing Israeli organizations which allegedly participate in deligitimization campaigns against Israeli soldiers.

Some 47 legislators voted in favor while 16 voted against, Israel Radio reported.

The proposal was submitted by a back-bench legislator from the ultra-nationalist Yisrael B'Teinu party, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's largest coalition partner, and was put forward despite a ruling by the attorney-general in August that no investigation should be launched against these groups.

The debate on the motion was characterized by catcalls and heckling, and saw a government minister, Michael Eitan, demand that Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon, of Yisrael B'Teinu, who spoke in favor of the motion, vacate the podium since he did not represent the government's position.

The Knesset vote was slammed by left-wing legislators and human rights groups.

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/news/360859,probe-funding-left-wing-groups.html.