BICOM

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday that he opposes an initiative by coalition partners Yisrael Beiteinu to establish a parliamentary commission of inquiry that would look into the sources of funding of left wing NGOs in Israel. Speaking at a ceremony honouring organisations which worked with Jewish communities in the Soviet Union, Netanyahu said that there was no need for the Knesset to establish ‘commissions of inquiry’, and that he would vote against the proposal. He noted, however, that he would allow Likud MKs freedom to vote on the issue.

The Yisrael Beiteinu proposal suggests the creation of a five-person committee that would investigate the sources of funding of a variety of left-wing organisations. Yisrael Beiteinu leader, Avigdor Lieberman criticised Netanyahu’s decision yesterday. However, a major coalition crisis is not expected to arise from this matter. Yisrael Beiteinu have, however, threatened to break coalition discipline in the future if the Government does not vote with them on the investigation bill.