Activists from Zionist organization Im Tirtzu on Monday filed a complaint with the Israeli police against left-wing lawmakers and organizations who expressed sympathy for the six Palestinian NGOs recently classified as terrorist organizations by the Israeli government.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
The targets of the complaint include organizations such as B'Tselem, Rabbis for Human Rights and Physicians for Human Rights.
Individuals include Lior Amihai, executive director of Yesh Din; and MK Gaby Lasky from the left-wing Meretz party as well as Environment Protection Minister Tamar Zandberg, who previously served as leader of Meretz.
The basis for the complaint lies in Israel's Counter-Terrorism Law, which states that anyone who assists the activities of a terrorist organization could face imprisonment of up to five years and anyone who displays sympathy toward a terrorist group is liable to three years behind bars.
Defense Minister Benny Gantz on Friday announced that he signed an executive order outlawing six Palestinian organizations linked to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine terrorist group in Judea and Samaria.
The Palestinian NGOs that Israel stamped with the terrorist designation include Addameer, Al Haq, Bisan Center, DCI-P, Samidoun and UAWC.
The move by Israel turned into a public spat between Washington and Jerusalem over whether notice was given to US officials before the announcement was made.
Meanwhile, MKs from the Joint Arab List faction on Tuesday evening met in Ramallah with representatives of the six Palestinian NGOs, expressing support for their work and promising to continue helping them in their fight to overturn Gantz's decision.
They also lambasted Meretz and the Arab Ra'am party as culpable for Gantz's decision, as they are both members of the ruling coalition.
"In the backward world in which the government of occupation calls itself a government of 'change,' the defense minister has the gall to declare human rights organizations with international reputations as terrorist organizations. Meretz and Ra'am need to decide which side they are on – the side of the occupation, annexation, and apartheid, or the side of peace, equality and democracy. This is a precedential and dangerous decision and we will fight it on all levels, including international," the Joint Arab List said in a statement.
MK Sami Abu Shehadeh from the Balad party said: "We met in Ramallah with the six human rights organizations that Gantz claims are terrorist organizations. These are ethical people who have been working for many years on behalf of human rights and justice and against the occupation and its crimes. Will Gantz have the courage to appear at the [International Criminal Court at] The Hague?"
Earlier Tuesday, officials from the Office of the European Union Representative also met with members of the six Palestinian NGOs
Posting through its special "EU and Palestinians" Twitter handle after the meeting, the EU representative's office said it took the matter seriously and asked Israel for an explanation as to why it decided to outlaw the groups..
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
