Deputy Foreign Minister (Likud) Tzipi Hotevely announced her office is going after the “Breaking the Silence” organization. Hotevely explains the organization is responsible for defaming Israel abroad. Her announcement is timed with the organization’s message that it has launched a new branch in Switzerland.

Hotevely has called on her staff to make recommendations as to what actions can be taken against the radical organization. She has also instructed the Israeli Embassy in Switzerland to carefully monitor the activities of the new office.

The deputy minister explained her office will not sit idly by while the organization actively works to stain the reputation of the State of Israel and the IDF in the international community. Hotevely adds she has instructed ministry officials to continue intensive activities against the organization.

In response, Breaking the Silence officials’ released the following statement: “We regret that the Israeli extreme right-wing organizations including ‘My Israel’ which were created by Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked continue to harm Israeli democracy by acting to silence the voices of soldiers who simply exercise their rights and who have an obligation to tell the reality which is unfortunately hidden from the public”.

“We would be pleased if MK Hotevely and other officials would come to listen to the soldiers and have a dialogue instead of taking cowardly and violent measures to silence them”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)