Anti-Democratic Initiatives
You have reached ACRI’s archive, updated with our activity up until 2018. For more recent posts, please visit our current website here.
In the past few years, ACRI has been increasingly concerned by intensifying infringements on democratic freedoms in Israel. Of particular concern is the fact that two of the central arenas from which these threats arise are the very ones charged with safeguarding democracy: The Knesset (Israeli parliament) and government leadership. Senior officials have voiced harsh and unprecedented statements against human rights organizations, political groups, and minorities, and have made various attempts to curtail their operations. A tide of anti-democratic legislative proposals is being introduced in the Knesset and there is a rising wave of assaults on social, political, and national minorities in the public sphere.
As a result, the basic principles of the Israeli democratic system are being undermined. There is an ongoing infringement on issues such as freedom of expression, human dignity and equality and on freedom of assembly and protest. ACRI seeks to educate the public on the increasing threat to basic democratic values through publications including the annual Human Rights Report. ACRI continues to demand accountability with regards to democratic principles and the assurance of such principles in every aspect of Israeli life.
Overview of Anti Democratic Legislation (updated October 2018)
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Warning Conversations at Ben Gurion International Airport
August 6, 2018
Over the past two months, several incidents have been reported involving the detention of workers in civil society organizations at … Read more
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Summary of the Knesset’s summer session
July 26, 2018
ACRI offers the following summary of the central issues that we addressed during the Knesset’s summer session that concluded in … Read more
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The “Breaking the Silence” Law
July 20, 2018
State Education Law (Prevention of Activity in an Educational Institution of External Bodies Acting Against the IDF or the Goals … Read more
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Nation-State Law
July 20, 2018
Discussions in the Ministerial Committee for Legislation was completed on Tuesday 18th July in the morning hours, and later on, … Read more
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Changing the Method for Appointing Legal Advisers
June 27, 2018
ACRI: The proposed bill will harm the independence and professionalism of the civil service, the protection of the rule of … Read more
Media
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ACRI: Knesset is Choosing to Silence NGOs instead of Dealing with Criticism
January 5, 2011
Following vote in Knesset on parliamentary inquiry commission into NGO funding ACRI: The Knesset is Choosing to Silence Organizations instead … Read more
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Knesset Speaker Rivlin: MKs Attach Brand of Apartheid
October 5, 2010
The following is a translation of an article which appeared on Haaretz’s Web site on August 3, 2010: Knesset Speaker … Read more
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ACRI on Revised “Transparency Bill”
August 18, 2010
Read letter and op-ed about dangerous legislative bill aiming to limit freedom of expression and legitimate civil society activity in … Read more
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ACRI: Current Knesset Threatens Israeli Democracy
July 22, 2010
In letter to PM, Knesset Speaker, ACRI Lists 14 Dangerous Draft Bills On July 21, on the last day of … Read more
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ACRI Warns against Damaging Conversion Bill
July 12, 2010
First Knesset plenum vote approved – in theory – on draft legislation which would bolster Chief Rabbinate’s authority on conversions … Read more
In the Knesset
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Summary of the Knesset’s summer session
July 26, 2018
ACRI offers the following summary of the central issues that we addressed during the Knesset’s summer session that concluded in … Read more
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Changing the Method for Appointing Legal Advisers
June 27, 2018
ACRI: The proposed bill will harm the independence and professionalism of the civil service, the protection of the rule of … Read more
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Knesset Round Up | June 3
June 3, 2018
Subscribe to our weekly Knesset update here: Registration Urban planning and building in the West Bank Strategic control of the … Read more
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The Override Clause Will Permit the Nullification of Supreme Court Decisions Grounded in the Basic Laws. This is an Alarming Prospect.
April 22, 2018
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Transfer of OPT petitions from the High Court to the Court for Administrative Affairs in Jerusalem
February 25, 2018
Memorandum on Administrative Affairs Courts Law (amendment – a decision of an authority in the area) 5768 – 2018 According … Read more
Legal Work
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HCJ dismisses petition against the “Expulsion Law”
May 28, 2018
On May 27th, 2018 at 8:30pm, the High Court of Justice dismissed one of two petitions against the “Expulsion Law.” … Read more
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Knesset Candidates Being Disqualified for Cynical and Political Purposes
February 17, 2015
ACRI has called to immediately remove the power to disqualify Knesset candidates and political parties from politicians. On … Read more
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Supreme Court Justice Joubran: “This is forcing the Arab parties to unite on one list.”
December 29, 2014
On Sunday, December 28, an extended panel of nine Supreme Court Justices heard arguments on two petitions – submitted by … Read more
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Justice Prevails – Anti-Infiltration Law Overturned
September 17, 2013
In an extremely important decision yesterday (September 16), the High Court of Justice ruled following an ACRI petition … Read more
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High Court of Justice to State: Explain legality of anti-infiltration law
March 12, 2013
The state will be required to defend the legality of a number of sections of the anti-infiltration law, following a … Read more
Publications
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Update: Overview of Anti-Democratic Legislation in the 20th Knesset
December 24, 2017
In recent years we have witnessed a disturbing trend toward the erosion of democratic values in Israel and the promotion … Read more
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Position Paper: the Nation-State Bill
September 19, 2017
In recent years, several bills have been proposed that seek to enshrine into a Basic Law Israel’s definition as the … Read more
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Overview of Anti-Democratic Legislation in the 20th Knesset
July 1, 2017
In recent years we have witnessed a disturbing trend toward the erosion of democratic values in Israel and the promotion … Read more
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Lethal in Disguise
March 17, 2016
For several years ACRI has been a member of INCLO, The International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations, which is comprised … Read more
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Eagerness to silence criticism is greater than support for democracy
December 28, 2015
The Ministerial Committee for Legislative Affairs proved once again that there is more support for silencing criticism than for democracy. … Read more
Public Outreach
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Thousands March in Tel Aviv for Human Rights
December 9, 2012
People from all over Israel came together in Tel Aviv on Friday (7 December 2012) for the fourth annual Human … Read more
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Taking to the Streets: The Human Rights March 2012
November 26, 2012
On Friday, 7 December 2012, we will march together in the annual Human Rights March – with all the causes, … Read more
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GSS “Warning Talks” with Right Wing Activists Restrict Freedom of Expression
June 19, 2012
In response to reports that activists who attended classes on the writings of Rabbi Meir Kahana were summoned to “warning” … Read more
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Fighting for Different Causes – United in the Call for Universal Human Rights
December 11, 2011
Some 6,000 people marched last Friday (9 December 2011) in the annual Human Rights March that took place in Tel … Read more
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Join the Human Rights March on December 9!
November 30, 2011
Once again, we will take to the streets to call out: It’s our right! On Friday, 9 December 2011, … Read more
Policy Advocacy
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Urgent call to action – Do not promote the NGO Bill
May 24, 2016
On Wednesday May 25, 2016 a hearing will take place in the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee regarding the bill … Read more
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Knesset Vote today on the “Suspension Law”
March 28, 2016
Prior to a vote scheduled in the Knesset today on the proposed “Basic Law: The Knesset (Suspension of Members of … Read more
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A Bill to Enable the Knesset to Circumvent the Supreme Court
October 25, 2014
The Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) is vehemently opposed to the proposed bill that would enable the … Read more
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ACRI to Government Authority – Reverse Anti B’tselem Decision or Face Legal Action
August 16, 2014
On the evening of August 13, 2014, B’tselem received a letter from the Director General of the National Civilian Service … Read more
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A New Law to Limit Foreign Donations to Non-Profit Organizations
December 19, 2013
On Sunday December 15, the Ministerial Committee for Legislative Affairs approved (8 in favor, 4 against) a bill that … Read more
Knesset Roundup
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Summary of the Knesset’s summer session
July 26, 2018
ACRI offers the following summary of the central issues that we addressed during the Knesset’s summer session that concluded in … Read more
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Knesset Round Up | June 3
June 3, 2018
Subscribe to our weekly Knesset update here: Registration Urban planning and building in the West Bank Strategic control of the … Read more
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Knesset Round Up | October 30
October 30, 2017
Administrative Detention Proposed Law: The Struggle against Terror, 5775-2015 – Remaining section – Preparation for Second and Third Readings Constitution, … Read more
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Knesset Roundup | July 5
July 5, 2015
To receive the Knesset Roundup directly to your email, click … Read more
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Knesset Roundup | June 17
June 19, 2014
To receive the Knesset Roundup directly to your email, click here. … Read more