In early 2023, Israel witnessed the rise of its most far-right cabinet, initiating a campaign to replace democracy with autocracy under the guise of judicial reform. By autumn 2023, this government launched an extensive military operation against Gaza and targeted B’Tselem, the last bastion of human rights advocacy in Israel. Leading this battle, Prime Minister Netanyahu sees the truth about the occupied territories as treachery, underlining his urgency to disintegrate B’Tselem’s influence.
B’Tselem, established in 1989 by lawyers, academics, and medical professionals, was named for a biblical sentiment reflecting the image of God in humanity. As Jewish far-right extremism intensified, this organisation aimed to uphold the social justice principles within Judaism, a potent counter to the growing Jewish supremacy doctrines. The group’s genesis coincided with the First Intifada, during which it documented human rights violations and steadily became a conscience for the nation amidst violence.
Yuli Novak now leads B’Tselem after temporarily leaving Israel due to threats against her life, supported by Orly Noy as chair. Despite consistent pressures from extremist factions and the government, B’Tselem continues to detail human rights abuses in the occupied territories. Notably, their 2021 report classified Israel as an apartheid state, a claim fervently rejected by the Netanyahu administration yet echoed by numerous military and political figures over the years.
The Netanyahu cabinet’s legislative maneuvers aim to weaken B’Tselem by introducing two key bills: one that imposes an 80% tax on foreign donations to NGOs and another criminalising collaboration with the International Criminal Court (ICC). These laws are designed to cripple the financial resources of human rights organisations and pose legal risks to those reporting war crimes, stifling essential advocacy and documentation efforts.
B’Tselem operates independently on donations from individuals and foundations in Europe and North America, yet the Likud government’s portrayal of this funding as “foreign subversion” stands in stark contrast to their own backing from far-right, well-funded think tanks in Israel. This latter group has facilitated significant policy reforms under Netanyahu’s guidance, highlighting the disparity in influence and power dynamics within Israel’s political landscape.
Current trends suggest the impending eradication of human rights protections in Israel, with the Netanyahu cabinet poised to finalise legislation that could criminalise human rights advocacy. The government aims for a unitary Jewish state where the concepts of law and democracy erode, using B’Tselem as a scapegoat for its international isolation. If the global community continues to overlook these developments, it risks complicity in further atrocities against human rights defenders in Israel and beyond.
The Netanyahu cabinet targets B’Tselem, an essential human rights organisation in Israel, as part of its move towards autocracy. Founded in 1989, B’Tselem seeks to document violations of human rights amid a rise in far-right extremism. Recent bills suggest an aim to cripple NGOs financially and criminalise their operations. As the government progresses in its agenda, the global community’s response could determine the fate of human rights in Israel.
In summary, the Israeli government under Netanyahu is intensifying its assault on human rights organisations like B’Tselem, aiming to transform the nation into an autocratic state devoid of democratic principles. Legislative efforts to tax foreign donations and criminalise cooperation with the ICC serve to undermine the vital work of documenting human rights abuses. Unless external intervention occurs, the future of human rights protection in Israel and the occupied territories hangs perilously in the balance, with grave implications for all defenders of justice.
Original Source: moderndiplomacy.eu
