A Knesset vote on a contentious bill that aims to rein in cultural content deemed disloyal to the state was postponed indefinitely on Monday.
The vote was apparently delayed because the coalition was unable to whip up enough votes to pass it, and it may be shelved indefinitely.
The so-called "culture loyalty bill" would allow the government to pull funding from organizations or events that deny Israel is a Jewish, democratic state; incite to racism, violence, or terrorism; express support for the armed struggle or acts of terrorism against Israel by an enemy state or a terrorist organization; mark Israel's Independence Day as a day of mourning; or deface the flag or any other state symbol in any way.
The bill, sponsored by Culture and Sport Minister Miri Regev, effectively seeks to link cultural content and artistic expression to state funding, something previously blocked by the courts.
It also gives the Culture Ministry, rather than the Finance Ministry, the authority to deny funding to organizations deemed in violation of any of its criteria.
The bill's potential demise reflects the reality facing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recently downsized coalition. The coalition was reduced to a one-seat majority after former defense minister, Avigdor Lieberman, resigned earlier this month over a violent flare-up with Gaza terrorists.
While the coalition was kept intact despite threats by other partners to bring it down, it will likely struggle in its current composition to pass divisive laws such as the culture bill and could find itself susceptible to the extortion of any single lawmaker.
