Israeli boycott bill draws appeal warning

A controversial bill that criminalizes boycotts protesting Israeli policies was approved by the Knesset following nearly six hours of discussion Monday night. The measure, supported by the cabinet, passed on a vote of 47-38 despite a warning from four human rights organizations that they will take the matter to court, The Jerusalem Post reported. The Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, Physicians for Human Rights and the Coalition of Women for Peace said they planned an appeal to Israel's High Court. The groups charge the law "forces residents of east Jerusalem to cooperate with the occupation" and "violates the principle of equality by attempting to defend one political position while limiting other positions." The measure declares that any boycott against Israel or any entity within it -- including settlements in the occupied territories -- is a civil offense subject to litigation. It requires violators to pay damages far exceeding the losses suffered by their targets. Yasser Abd Rabbo, secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organization executive committee, said earlier if the Knesset passed the bill "an impending Quartet announcement regarding the possible renewal of negotiations will become irrelevant." Members of the Quartet -- the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations -- were meeting in Washington Monday concerning Palestinian statehood.