Bibi Opposes Knesset Investigations of Human Rights Groups

By Jonathan Lis (Haaretz) July 14, 2011

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Thursday he opposes setting up parliamentary committees to investigate the funding sources of left-wing Israeli human rights groups.

“We don’t need investigations in the Knesset,” Netanyahu said in a conference in Tel Aviv. “We don’t need investigative committees.”

The passing of the “boycott law” by the Knesset earlier this week – which Netanyahu said he approved and supported – prompted right-wing legislators to revive the initiative for parliamentary inquiry into the funding sources of Israeli human rights organizations. Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beiteinu) and MK Danny Danon (Likud) announced on Tuesday they will bring the initiative for a Knesset vote next week.

Knesset sources told Haaretz the initiative was being revived due to a fight for prestige between Yisrael Beiteinu and the Likud, following the Likud success in passing the boycott law.

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