Israel advances bill tying cultural funding to 'loyalty'

The proposed legislation, denounced by artists and freedom of speech activists, was proposed by far-right Israeli Culture Minister Miri Regev.

The bill must pass three votes in parliament before it can become law.

The bill would give Israel's finance and culture ministries the power to slash subsidies for any institution that challenges Israel's existence as a Jewish state or eschews celebrating the creation of the state in 1948.

The draft law would also see funding cut over work that attacks the state flag.

"I am very happy that this law has been passed by the Ministerial Committee on Legislation," Regev wrote on Facebook.

"It will then be presented to the Knesset to be adopted, God willing, next month... Yes to freedom of culture, no to provocations!"

Regev, a member of Israel's ruling right-wing Likud party, is no stranger to controversy and has repeatedly clashed with the country's largely left-leaning cultural elite.

Last year she slammed the Israeli drama "Foxtrot", which won the Venice Film Festival's second highest prize, for spreading untruths about the Israeli army.

She was not invited to September's Ophir Awards - Israel's version of the Oscars - where "Foxtrot" won the best picture prize.

She instead appeared live on her Facebook page to criticise the movie and members of Israel's Film and Television Academy.

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