ACRI Review of Knesset Winter Session

Photo CC by Joshua Paquin

In recent years, ACRI has been increasingly troubled by expanding assaults on Israel’s democratic values. Of great concern is the fact that one of the key arenas in which this takes place is the parliament itself – the very heart of democracy. Furthermore, the Knesset plenum and committees have frequently served as platforms for offensive and inciting discourse, mostly targeting ethnic and political minorities.
 
The attacks on Israel’s democracy are mainly characterized by attempts to silence social or political minorities’ views or public criticism; attempts to delegitimize political rivals, human rights organizations, and minorities; attempts to restrict parties with positions that do not coincide with the political majority’s views; and by presenting minorities as enemies of the State, in an attempt to legitimize the infringement on their civil and political rights.
 
On March 30, the Knesset went on a spring break and will resume its work in May. Upon this temporary hiatus, we have gleaned the various anti-democratic bills that have been promoted in the current Knesset, summarized them, and organized them in one document which we hope you will find useful. When available, we added links to ACRI’s policy papers in English.
 
To download ACRI’s review of the 18^th Knesset’s Winter Seat, click here.
 
Considering the important role that the Knesset plays within Israel’s democratic framework, ACRI warns that the trends promoted by the Knesset have a dangerous chilling effect on Israeli civil society, have severe implications on the state of human rights and civil liberties, and contribute to undemocratic and racist public stands, which have been increasingly salient in Israeli society in the past few years.