Israel split over bill probing human rights groups

BACKERS of a bill calling for a parliamentary investigation of Israeli human rights groups said yesterday they would press forward with the initiative this week, despite growing public criticism and opposition from the prime minister.

The contentious bill comes on the heels of a law passed last week to punish local people who call for boycotts of Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

Critics say the bills violate the right to free speech, and the recent legislation has sparked a fierce debate over the limits of Israeli democracy.