MK Yinon Magal
MK Yinon MagalNati Shohat / Flash 90

The Ministerial Committee for Legislation approved Monday a bill submitted by MK Yinon Magal (Jewish Home), that would close Israel's gates to people who call for or support a boycott on the Jewish state.

People who act to promote boycotts of Israel, or are members of organizations that do this, will not be allowed into Israel, whether for work or tourism.

The bill will be brought to the Knesset plenum for a preliminary reading in the coming weeks.

"Approval of the bill is only logical," Magal said. "It is unthinkable that a person who seeks to harm the state of Israel would be allowed to enter it freely."

"A person who calls for a boycott against Israel is employing terror against it, for all intents and purposes," he argued. "It is unthinkable that we let him wander around the country unhindered."

Bills approved by the Ministerial Committee for Legislation have the support of the governing Coalition, which enjoys a parliamentary majority. They are thus much more likely to pass than bills that are not approved by the committee.