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NGOs write letter in response to Knesset inquiry on left

By JPOST.COM STAFF

JANUARY 5, 2011 18:48

Responding to the Knesset's approval of an Israel Beiteinu proposal to form a commission of inquiry looking into the activities and sources of financing of left-wing non-governmental organizations, 15 Israeli NGOs issued a joint statement condemning the initiative and asserting: "We have nothing to hide."

The letter opened with an invitation to investigate and interrogate the NGOs, restating that they "have nothing to hide." The organizations noted that "similar attempts to silence criticism have failed in the past," adding, "this attempt will fail to."

Additionally, the non-governmental organizations stated that In a democracy: "criticizing government policy is not only legitimate - it is essential"; "you don't go after those who raise questions - you hold a real discussion and look for genuine answers"; "defending human rights is not the subject to the whims of a passing parliamentary majority"; "human rights serve as everyone's protective shield - if it's broken to pieces, we are all in danger."

The organizations who signed the letter included: ACRI, B'Tselem, Gisha, The Public Committee against Torture, Machsom Watch, Adalah, Ir Amim, Shovrim Shtika, among others.

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