Horowitz: Lieberman brings Knesset to 'new low'

Nitzan Horowitz

Since the Meretz party no longer maintains an English-language section on its website, I sometimes translate bits & pieces of what I read there. That way, the English-speaking world knows that there are still members of Knesset who, though diminished in number, are fighting for sanity in Israel.  What follows is MK Nitzan Horowitz's reaction to the so-called "panel of inquiry" recently formed by the Knesset to look into the "delegitimizing" actions of Israeli human rights groups.

The persecution of human and civil rights organizations has reached a new low.  The move by [Avigdor] Lieberman and his MKs to set up a "parliamentary committee of inquiry" regarding the activity of organizations that "delegitimize Israel", as they would have it, is a disgrace to the Knesset.

This is political persecution through the use of a coalition majority, and funded by the Knesset budget,  and under the dubious legal cover of an "investigative committee".  There's also no doubt what the goal of this "investigative committee" is: Shutting mouths and silencing criticism.

Avigdor Lieberman

It is the human and civil rights organizations who are saving Israel's dignity in the eyes of the world, and maintaining its character as a democracy.  It is precisely steps of the sort being led by Yisrael Beiteinu that are causing the delegitimization of Israel around the world and making Israeli democracy look like a fraud.

Every Israeli needs to get to know the organizations that are working for Israel's moral strength; to see the data that they are presenting; to take part in [their] tours; to voice an ... informed opinion.  You don't necessarily have to agree with them - but we must never silence them, never take away their voice.

Meretz MK Nitzan Horowitz

For Hebrew readers - the original can be found here.