Last April, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman demanded that Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit revoke leftist NGO B’Tselem’s entitlement to National Service recruits, because of the group’s call on IDF soldiers to defy orders to act against demonstrators along the Gaza Strip border fence.
“I view with great seriousness the attempt to sow fear and division among IDF fighters and commanders, while the IDF protects Israel’s southern border from sabotage and provocations organized by Hamas,” the Defense Minister wrote Mandelblit.
On Wednesday, the AG informed Shay Glick, CEO of B’Tsalmo, which is B’Tselem’s mirror image nemesis, that the leftwing NGO would continue to enjoy the free labor of Israeli recruits, despite its subversive efforts.
Mandelblit explained that the only reason to revoke an NGO’s qualification is if it is suspected by the police of criminal activity – which B’Tselem, like it or not, isn’t.
The Knesset has enacted a law, which goes into effect in 2019, empowering the National Service to investigate complaints against groups employing its recruits, and revoke their entitlement if need be.
Glick condemned the AG for collaborating with a hostile organization.