Zionist Union heads split over anti-BDS activist law

Chairpeople of the Zionist Union faction Isaac Herzog and Tzipi Livni split over a proposed bill to prevent Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) activists from entering Israel, with Herzog coming out in favor and Livni opposing, Haaretz reports.

During the faction meeting, Herzog, the current head of the opposition, encourages the party to take a “central line” and support the bill.

“That’s why our voters are going to Yesh Atid,” Herzog says, referring to the rival centrist party led by Yair Lapid.

Livni, however, describes the bill as effectively useless at preventing BDS activities, but potentially damaging to Israel’s status as a democracy.

“Next week, I am going to Rome to defend the State of Israel, and my argument is Israeli democracy,” Livni says.

“What am I supposed to say in Europe? BDS activists don’t care if they’re attacking Israel from here or from abroad,” she adds.