MK Michael Ben Ari (National Union): “Movements on the extreme left have proven that they are some of the people who would like to see the State of Israel destroyed. They are betraying the state and therefore there is no escape from taking steps against them. We will reveal that they are funded by enemy states and we will treat them like Hezbollah.”
IOA Editor: The original statement, in Hebrew, makes the point far clearer: “נעמיד אותם בשורה אחת עם החיזבאללה” or, “we will put them on the same line with Hezbollah,” with the strong connotation of standing them against the wall and shooting them.
By Ilan Lior, Haaretz – 15 Jan 2011
www.haaretz.com/news/national/thousands-protest-in-tel-aviv-against-knesset-probe-of-ngos-1.337188
Thousands of activists from left-wing movements and human rights organizations were marching in Tel Aviv on Saturday in protest of the Knesset’s decision to set up a committee of inquiry to probe the funding sources of leftist groups.
The protest march, under the headline “Demonstration (since it’s still possible) for democracy”, left from Tel Aviv’s Meir Park toward the plaza in front of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, where a rally was due to take place in which Knesset members from Kadima, Meretz, and Hadash as well as officials from Peace Now and human rights groups were due to deliver speeches.
"Investigate me, too" - thousands demonstrating in Tel Aviv against rising Israeli fascism, 15 Jan 2011 (Photo: Tal Cohen)
Protesters were chanting in support of democracy and free speech, and carried signs with slogans such as “Awaiting Democracy”, “Danger! End of Democracy Ahead”, “Fighting the Government of Darkness” and “Democracy is Screaming for Help”.
Right-wing factions criticized the demonstration and its leftist organizers. MK Danny Danon (Likud), one of the initiators of the bill calling for a probe into human rights groups, said the protesters were “fighting for the democracy of foreign countries and not of Israel,” and said that they are carrying out the protest solely for money.
MK Michael Ben Ari (National Union) said that the protest would not aid the leftists. “Movements on the extreme left have proven that they are some of the people who would like to see the State of Israel destroyed. They are betraying the state and therefore there is no escape from taking steps against them. We will reveal that they are funded by enemy states and we will treat them like Hezbollah,” said Ben Ari.
The Knesset plenum voted last week to order the House Committee to consider establishing a parliamentary panel of inquiry into left-wing Israeli organizations that allegedly participate in delegitimization campaigns against Israel Defense Forces soldiers.
Forty-seven legislators voted in favor of the motion while 16 voted against.
The initiative, brought forth by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu faction, called primarily to investigate the sources of funding for these groups. The panel will essentially be charged with looking into where these groups have been attaining their funds, particularly whether this money is coming from foreign states or even organizations deemed to be involved in terrorist activities.
