The Knesset Legislation approved for a first reading, on Tuesday, a bill to prevent companies from participating in government bids if they take part in a boycott of a business in Israel. The bill is intended to counter the contracts signed by Israeli businesses with the Palestinian Authority (PA) for the building of the PA's city of Rawabi, next to the Samarian Jewish community of Ateret, which did not allow purchases from Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, the Golan Heights or parts of Jerusalem liberated in the Six Day War of 1967.
Coalition Chairman Ze'ev Elkin, who sponsored the bill, said he hoped it would pass the Knesset quickly. He added, "The state of Israel must protect itself against those who try to boycott it, at least to the same degree as we ask other countries to protect us."