Israel Moves to Curtail Free Speech on the Internet

The Jerusalem Post reports:

Web site owners or editors will be legally responsible for any content on their site, including comments made in talkbacks and message boards, a bill passed on Sunday by the Ministerial Committee on Legislation states.

According to the bill, which was drafted by MK Israel Hasson (Israel Beiteinu) web sites could be absolved of liability if they agree to reveal the details of posters.

While the bill still needs to be approved in three readings in the Knesset plenum, receiving the support of the Ministerial Committee on Legislation gives it a much higher chance of passing into law.

This will, of course, completely shut down the free exchange of ideas and is one of the most anti-democratic schemes I've seen.

Note who wrote the law and which political party he is affiliated with. It is the the right wing, not the left who initiated this horrible bill.

Let's hope the bill does not pass and that its sponsor finds productive work outside the political area forthwith.

[Hat Tip: Jerome, who saw it here.]

Comments

[A perplexed reader]

Sickening. Truly sickening. Just one more example of the fact that Israel is NOT a democracy, despite what all the ivory-tower business suit, fancy tie "Jews" in America say.

"Note who wrote the law and which political party he is affiliated with. It is the the right wing, not the left who initiated this horrible bill."

That is probably because in Israel, those claiming to be on the right are often agents of the left, and the shabak has infiltrated many rightwing endeavors to the detriment of the right. False opposition from "leaders" such as Lieberman, Netanyahu, etc seems to reign supreme, just one step below the leftist Arabist established elite running the show, seemingly all on US payroll. Rabin was once considered right. As was Sharon. As was Olmert.... Barak and Bibi.... they are Parading as rightwing.

Will Ravitz accept a bribe to join Olmert's coalition and be the latest casualty should Lieberman coordinate a safe theatrical drop-out with him and Olmert? This can plant the seeds for Lieberman's next stage act should Olmert be overthrown before the Appeasement plan has been completed with the PLO. He can step in along with Netanyahu as the false "rightwing that really isn't rightwing" replacement in the next elections when Israelis will surely let their voting reflect their disappointment in Olmert's reign.

[Jerome Soller]

When I sent this disturbing article to Shmarya, I held the current Olmert government responsible, particularly if it passes. Their primary concern is keeping the current government in place, not what is good for the Israeli people. They are afraid of criticism. Why did I say this when Israel Beitenu submitted this? Israel Beitenu are clearly a bunch of hypocrites that are afraid of public perception, should the current government run into problems. They would not have submitted something they thought did not have a chance to pass. Therefore, if it passes, it will be due to efforts of every group involved in the current corrupt Israeli government, including Kadima, Israel Beitenu, Shas, etc.

At the most fundamental level, restrictions on freedom of speech are a scary precedent. It does not matter which group is blamed for initiating it. If it passes, it will have broad support from these parties that are entrenched and afraid of criticism. Regardless of one's political views, I can see no good coming out of this.

Jerome

[steve]

Another example of the Israeli government's stifling of democracy occurred in 1988 when they outlawed Rabbi Meir Kahane's Kach party just before the national elections. Kach was poised to win at least ten seats in that election.

[Sam]

Wow. I'm stunned speechless. Simply amazing. Actually I'm not speechless—I just posted my own thoughts on my blog.

But I'm wondering where Trackbacks went? They seem to have disappeared—how can I give this post a proper citation?

[Shmarya]

JUst copy and past the url as a link in your post. Thanks!

[Barry]

Don't panic yet!
The Jerusalem Post report lacks clarity. To state that web sites owners are responsible for the contents of their web pages including comments is always the legal position whether in Israel or elsewhere. The important issue is the EXTENT of that responsibility. So for example most people would not object to a requirement that a web site remove slanderous comments (or a product misrepresentation or false prospectus) within a reasonable period of being made aware of that comment or face civil liability. After all a newspaper can be held civilly liable for publishing slanderous letters. Freedom of speech is not relevant in that situation. The US Supreme Court and Rabbi Avi Shafran will both have different ideas as to what the extent of that responsibility should be however Rabbi Shafran has no power to impose his ideas whilst the Supreme Court can. That does however not cause me to lose to much sleep because I am confident that the Supreme Court will impose its ideas in a responsible manner. If I was Chinese, I would not sleep that easy. Also the Israeli judiciary is not as liberal as the American judiciary, it remains relatively liberal considering it is a country at war.