Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked says deputy attorney general Dina Zilber can no longer serve in her position after leveling criticism against a so-called loyalty bill conditioning state funding of the arts of certain political criteria.
At a meeting of the Knesset Education, Culture and Sports Committee Tuesday, Zilber said the bill “poses real difficulties” and that the authority the legislation aims to grant Culture Minister Miri Regev creates “a cooling and self-censoring effect.”
Deputy Attorney General Dina Zilber at the Knesset on January 31, 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
Shaked told Attorney general Avichai Mandelblit she expects Zilber to be removed from any role in which she represents the government. It’s unclear if she can force such a move.
The legislation calls for the denial of government funding to groups “that are working against the principles of the state.”
At the meeting, Zilber leveled harsh criticism against the bill and other recent controversial legislation by the right-wing government.
“These are not simple days and they are bringing us not only new laws but new words. … confrontational dialogue, wounding, scarring our shared social fabric, labeling and branding — who is for us and who is against us,” she said.
“If there’s someone who is loyal, so is there someone who is a traitor,” she added.
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