RAMALLAH, July 11 (JMCC) - Israel's parliament is set Monday to vote on the second and third readings of a bill to sanction people or organizations that advocate for a boycott against Israel.
The bill has caused controversy as critics say it will stifle freedom of expression in Israel.
According to Haaretz:
The bill, sponsored by MK Zeev Elkin (Likud ), places a number of sanctions on companies and individuals publicly calling for boycott against Israel or a boycott of settlements. [...]
The final version of the bill would empower the court to set a sum of compensation to be paid by organizations or individuals calling for boycott, without proof of damages. The bill also adds a handful of new sanctions, such as stating that an organization committed to calling for a boycott on Israel will not be recognized as tax-exempt.
The bill is supported by the government and is expected to pass easily, despite
an expected opinion by the Knesset's legal adviser that the bill would damage free speech.