A gross abuse of power

Whatever one's views about the Netanyahu government, there can never be an excuse for bullying, harassment and intimidation

Opponents of Israeli policy demonstrating outside the home of Arthur Dantchik

One week ago, the American billionaire Arthur Dantchik announced that he would no longer fund the Kohelet Policy Forum, the Jerusalem think-tank credited with helping formulate the Israeli government’s judicial reform policy which has provoked seven months of huge protests on Israel’s streets.

Dantchik said he was withdrawing his money from “think-tanks in Israel including the Kohelet Policy forum”. He told the Israeli financial news paper Calcalist: 

Throughout my life, I have supported a diverse array of organisations that promote individual liberties and economic freedoms for all people. Nevertheless, when a society becomes dangerously fragmented, people must come together to preserve democracy… I believe what is most critical at this time is for Israel to focus on healing and national unity.

On Tuesday, Israel’s Ha’aretz newspaper ran a remarkable piece by Kim Legziel in its English online edition in which it crowed over what had caused Dantchik to withdraw his money. What exactly was it gloating over? Harassment, bullying and intimidation which had succeeded in bringing down the target.