Ayalon: Israel must fight against internal incitement

Deputy FM tells Army Radio that the state cannot ignore the "stuggle against incitement, delegitimization...on the domestic front."

By GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN, JPOST.COM STAFF
Danny Ayalon 311 (photo credit: Courtesy)
Danny Ayalon 311
(photo credit: Courtesy)
Israel must fight to defend itself from an onslaught of incitement and delegitimization and cannot focus only on external threats, Deputy
Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon (Israel Beiteinu) said on Wednesday.
"The state of Israel is in an enormous struggle against incitement and delegitimization. The world is trying to prevent Israel from its right to defend itself from terrorist organizations, like in the flotilla or Operation Cast Lead - we cannot ignore the domestic front," Ayalon told Army Radio.
RELATED:Netanyahu: We don’t need investigations in the KnessetLieberman 'disappointed' in PM but no coalition crisisAyalon added that a bill to establish Knesset committees to investigate leftists groups would be brought to a vote on Wednesday, Israel Radio reported.
Right-wing groups, such as those harassing OC Judea and Samaria Division Brig.- Gen. Nitzan Alon, should also be investigated for incitement, Ayalon added.
In an interview with Israel Radio, Strategic Affairs Minister Moshe Ya'alon said that he does not support the bill because in his opinion it would do more harm than good.
Two controversial bills that would form parliamentary commissions of inquiry to investigate leftist non-governmental organizations are not expected to receive enough support to pass in votes in the Knesset today.
The first, submitted by Israel Beiteinu MK Faina Kirschenbaum, would probe the damage done by the NGOs to the IDF. The second, sponsored by Likud MK Danny Danon, would investigate the contributions the NGOs received from foreign countries.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu opposes both bills as do multiple Likud ministers and Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin. Most of the Likud faction however will support the legislation.
Israel Beiteinu has asked for a role-call vote to embarrass right-wing MKs who oppose the bills. Party officials said if Kirschenbaum’s bill is defeated, she will immediately submit it again in hopes it will pass at a later date.
A coalition of ten left-wing organizations sent a letter to MKs on Tuesday calling the proposed parliamentary committee a “witch hunt” and warning them that if the bill passes, “it would harm what is left of Israeli democracy.”