Knesset passes law banning NGOs working against IDF from state schools

The Knesset passed a law that would ban from state schools all organizations that work to bring legal or diplomatic sanctions against IDF soldiers. 

By: World Israel News Staff

The Knesset passed legislation Monday night that bans organizations critical of the IDF from sending representatives to speak in state-run schools.

The legislation applies only to organizations that actively seek to bring legal proceedings against IDF soldiers in international legal forums.

The legislation is called the “Breaking the Silence Law” after the eponymous organization that gathers and publishes largely anonymous accounts by former IDF soldiers about alleged human rights violations that they and their fellow soldiers purportedly committed.

The legislation also calls on state-run schools to encourage students to strive to perform “significant” military service or national service after finishing high school.

Jewish Home MK Shuli Moalem-Refaeli, one of the sponsors of the legislation, said that Israel’s education system has the goal of encouraging students to go on to do IDF service that is significant.

In contrast, Tamar Zandberg, leader of the left-wing Meretz party, tweeted in support of Breaking the Silence.

Zandberg said that Breaking the Silence is not against IDF soldiers rather they are IDF soldiers. She said that the organization brings attention to real moral and ethical issues faced by IDF soldiers. Turning a blind eye to these problems will not make them go away, she tweeted.