Czech lawmakers debate rules for parliamentary seminars following Israel-Palestine discussion

Czech Green Party lawmakers Gabriela Svárovská and Irena Ferčíková Konečná are facing criticism from Minister for Sport and Health Boris Šťastný following a seminar on international law and human rights in the Palestinian territories. The seminar featured speakers from B’Tselem, Human Rights Watch, and a Palestinian lawyer to discuss issues such as land seizure, movement restrictions, and the 2018 Israeli Nation-State Law.

Minister Šťastný challenged the expertise of the guests and the perceived unilateral nature of the event, proposing new rules for organizing seminars in the Chamber of Deputies to ensure a balance of views. However, a coalition of ANO, SPD, and Motorist parties blocked his attempt to include this topic on the Friday agenda, prioritizing a government proposal regarding the abolition of television and radio fees instead.

Svárovská responded by stating that the government majority should not decide which experts MPs are permitted to invite for debate. She argued that the Chamber of Deputies should not be more closed off to debate than Israeli society itself and offered a joint debate where both sides could present their preferred experts.