Israel in turmoil over proposal to cancel anti-discrimination law
With the president, politicians, intellectuals and celebrities slamming an amendment proposed by future coalition members to cancel the anti-discrimination law, incoming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu finds himself in a bind.
Israeli financial and industry groups came out Monday against an initiative by far-right Knesset members to seek legislation allowing businesses and service providers to refuse services that allegedly go against their religious beliefs. Israel’s Bank Discount announced it would deny credit to any business or entity found to be discriminating against any sector of Israeli society.
A few hours after the decision was made by Discount’s board of directors, other groups published similar announcements. These included the Israeli cybersecurity startup Wiz, AIG Israel insurance company, Altshuler-Shaham investment house and others.
The storm started last week when details of the coalition deals signed by the Likud with its future coalition partners were revealed. Among those details was the proposal by the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party to amend the law that prevents discrimination in products and services. This legislation is considered a major tool in fighting against discrimination against women, LGBTQ and Israeli Arabs, among others.
On Sunday, the storm grew bigger. Interviewed by public broadcaster KAN on the proposed amendment, Knesset member Orit Strock of the Religious Zionism party, set to serve as minister at the prime minister’s office, said that doctors should be allowed to refuse to provide medical treatments that contravene their religious faith, as long as another doctor is willing to provide the same assistance. Strock’s party colleague Simcha Rothman, set to head the Knesset Law and Justice Committee, took things even further. He said in an interview that a hotel owner could refuse to host gay couples.
