Culture and Sport Minister Miri Regev and Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon agreed Thursday to push for new legislation aimed at defunding cultural institutions that undermine the state's values and symbols.
The ministers agreed to draft an amendment to the Culture and Art Law that would prohibit the state from funding organizations and institutions that: deny Israel is a Jewish and democratic state; incite racism, violence and terrorism; support armed struggle and terrorist activities; mark Independence Day as a day of mourning, or vandalize the national flag or emblem.
Several years ago, the Knesset passed the Nakba Law, which authorizes the Finance Ministry to deny funding to organizations that identify and memorialize the "Nakba," the "catastrophe" suffered by Arabs as a result of Israel's founding. That law has not been used against cultural venues because of disagreements over interpretation and because of procedural hurdles.
"Israel guarantees artistic freedom but not the freedom to take advantage of public funds to undermine the state and its symbols," the ministers said in a statement. "A fringe group of radicals in Israel has not passed up a single opportunity to incite against Israel and the Israel Defense Forces; having the state fund their activity is not right."
Speaking with Israel Hayom, Regev said, "Ever since I became a minister, I said that I wanted to prohibit the use of taxpayer funds to finance incitement against Israel and IDF troops. This new amendment provides new hope for the Israeli public who believes in freedom of speech but is opposed to freedom of incitement."
MK Yoel Hasson (Zionist Union) attacked Regev for the move.
"We have seen this charade before," he said. "The minister of cultural muzzling is once again adding a rehashed piece of legislation to the basket of anti-democratic laws promoted by the Israeli government. Israelis must go to the polls as soon as possible."
