Knesset Member Ze’ev Elkin (Likud) announced today (Monday) that the “boycott bill” will be voted on by the Knesset plenum tonight despite previous reports suggesting it will be postponed.  It was reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanded that the Knesset vote which was set to be put through its second and third reading.

Peace Now demonstration against the Boycott Bill in Jerusalem (Photo: Peace Now)

Earlier, Knesset Member Yohanan Plesner (Kadima) turned to the Knesset’s Legal Counsel Eyal Yinon seeking his legal opinion with regards to the law that has garnered harsh responses. The Knesset’s legal counsel is not known as a supporter of the bill, but the phrasing seems to be subtle and focuses on one problematic component in the bill.

The opposition is determined to fight the “boycott bill”  which will be put to a vote on second and third readings at the Knesset. In a press conference held today opposition factions vowed to do everything to prevent the law from passing.  The Kadima faction decided to vote against the bill. “The bill is a silencing attempt which offends basic rights,” MK Shai Hermesh said. “Not every settlement is wrong. But the boycott bill will not protect Israeli farmers, it just adds fuel to the fire.”

MK Zahava Gal-On (Meretz) said: “This Knesset is legislating anti-democratic and racist laws. A boycott is a legitimate and non-violent form of protest. A society that allows a boycott of cottage cheese should allow the right to protest and freedom of expression against settlements.”