Right wingers call to cancel ‘Breaking the Silence’ event in Jerusalem
Breaking the Silence CEO Yuli Novak is scheduled to speak at the event and present the organization's new report, titled "The High Command."
By LIDAR GRAVÉ-LAZICulture Minister Miri Regev(photo credit: REUTERS)
NGO Breaking the Silence, which provides anonymous testimonies of soldiers that describe alleged IDF transgressions, found itself once again the center of controversy this week following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s trip to the UK.On Tuesday, Sports and Culture Minister Miri Regev called on Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat to cancel a planned lecture scheduled for Wednesday evening at the Barbur Gallery in Jerusalem, which receives municipal funding.“The Barbur Gallery, which is funded from public money, will not constitute a house for Breaking the Silence, an anti-Israel propaganda organization which spreads lies against the State of Israel and IDF fighters," she wrote on her Facebook page.Breaking the Silence CEO Yuli Novak is scheduled to speak at the event and present the organization's new report, titled "The High Command," which according to the group will "describe in detail the influence of settlers on IDF soldiers in the territories.""Spins on top of spins for a little bit more air time for Miri Regev," Novak told Army Radio on Tuesday. "I'm guessing that this event will take place and I invite everyone. Even her, by the way."The organization also posted a sarcastic statement on its Facebook page with a picture of a seat and the words "reserved for Miri Regev" written on it."Miri Regev, send us an SMS when you are at the entrance - we will try to save you a seat," the post read.Matan Peleg, CEO of right-wing NGO Im Tirtzu also penned a letter to Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat on Monday asking him to cancel the event."This is not the first time that the Barbour Gallery asks to use public resources to provide a platform for anti-Israel views," he wrote.He noted an event hosted by the gallery two years ago including an exhibit by Ir Amim, which he said presented "the personal stories of East Jerusalem citizens, while glorifying the activities of convicted terrorists."
Peleg said that he is strongly opposed to providing a platform, based on public funding, to an organization dedicated to denigrating IDF soldiers and that works to undermine and de-legitimize Israel's standing in the international arena."When the event is held in a place funded by the municipality and out of the pockets of taxpayers, it is unacceptable and therefore you must act immediately to cancel it," he wrote.The Jerusalem Municipality told media outlets on Tuesday that it would summon the representatives of the Barbur Gallery for an urgent hearing on the matter Wednesday morning.Earlier this week in London, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with his British counterpart, Theresa May and discussed her country's support for organizations such as Breaking the Silence, asking her to reconsider funding them.Following news of the discussion, Breaking the Silence took to Facebook in a message to the prime minister and said: "There is only one way to stop us: end the occupation.""Among all the 'important' things that Bibi found right to discuss with the British Prime Minister, it seems he asked her to stop funding us...really!? Bibi, it's a shame you wasted your wish on us, because we have other sources of funding," the organization wrote.Peleg also issued a statement and said that in the past few years the UK has “transferred millions of dollars to political propaganda and anti-Israel organizations acting from within as 'foreign agents' in every regard.”“The use of political agents of change funded by foreign governments constitutes a blatant infringement on sovereignty, independence and Israeli democracy and as such this is a significant and important step,” he said.Peleg alluded to the controversial campaign that his organization ran one year ago, "Shtulim," [foreign agents] which aimed to raise awareness over the "threat of intervention by foreign European governments" and said that since then there have been "positive developments.""Not only in terms of social awareness, but also internalizing the problem among decision makers and an understanding that we must put in place a worthy policy and legal solution," he said.