In early 2023, Israel witnessed the most extreme right-wing cabinet in its history launch bold “judicial reforms” aimed at transitioning democracy into autocracy. By autumn 2023, these actions escalated into an aggressive offensive against Gaza, signalling intentions to target the country’s remaining human rights advocates. B’Tselem, the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, finds itself in the crosshairs of this campaign under Prime Minister Netanyahu, who equates revealing truths about the occupied territories with treason.
Founded in 1989 by a collective of Israeli lawyers, academics, and doctors, B’Tselem was born from the human rights ethos anchored in Jewish tradition—“b’tselem elohim,” meaning in the image of God. As Jewish far-right extremism gained traction, B’Tselem sought to counter this shift by reaffirming commitments to universal social justice values, driven by the anguish of the First Intifada and escalating military repression against Palestinians.
The Israeli government led by Netanyahu has consistently rejected B’Tselem’s characterisation of its policies, even labelling Israel’s regime as “apartheid”. Despite facing severe threats, B’Tselem, now governed by Yuli Novak and Orly Noy, preserves its mission to document human rights abuses in the occupied territories while gaining international recognition for its relentless advocacy.
Recent legislative moves further illustrate the cabinet’s resolute agenda to undermine B’Tselem. Following preliminary approval in the Knesset, bills aiming to significantly tax foreign donations to NGOs and criminalise interactions with the International Criminal Court (ICC) threaten the very foundation of human rights advocacy in Israel. These laws are positioned to disband local organisations by crippling their financial support and penalising the documentation of Israeli war crimes.
B’Tselem’s independent funding comes primarily from generous grants and private donations, contrasting sharply with the financial backing for right-wing organisations like the Kohelet Policy Forum, driven by American neoconservative donors. Their immense wealth, channelled through various networks, ensures the continued influence of hardline policies in Israel, further entrenching the erosion of democratic values.
As the situation evolves, the future of human rights in Israel looks increasingly bleak. The Netanyahu administration appears poised to solidify a unitary Jewish state, where the rule of law is eroded and dissent against government actions becomes a criminal offence. Should the international community remain passive in defending B’Tselem, the ramifications for human rights defenders across the occupied territories could be severe, potentially culminating in grave atrocities.
In 2023, the Netanyahu cabinet initiated judicial reforms to dismantle democracy in Israel, subsequently escalating their offensive against Gaza and targeting human rights groups like B’Tselem. Despite threats and legislative attempts to undermine its work, B’Tselem continues to document human rights violations in the occupied territories. The cabinet’s proposed laws threaten the very existence of human rights organisations, pushing Israel towards a future devoid of democratic principles.
The Netanyahu cabinet’s aggressive push to marginalise B’Tselem signifies a broader attack on human rights advocacy in Israel, undermined by newly proposed laws that restrict funding and criminalise cooperation with international legal bodies. As Israel navigates these treacherous waters, the fate of the remaining human rights defenders hangs precariously, awaiting urgent intervention from the global community to avert further descent into autocracy.
Original Source: www.juancole.com
