It has finally become clear what our politicians mean when they declare that “things you can see from there you cannot see from here.” Barak Ravid revealed recently in Haaretz that former Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman worked to persuade the Putin government to retract a law aimed at limiting the activities of democratic and human rights organizations in Russia.

According to Putin’s law, non-governmental organizations that receive donations from outside Russia will have to register as “foreign agents,” undergo meticulous examinations of their books, and print the term “foreign agent” on their publications.

Naturally, the Russian law provoked widespread opposition throughout the world, including Israel. But Lieberman’s opposition to the law, on the pretext that it would endanger the activities of the Jewish Agency in Russia, was the height of hypocrisy. For it was Lieberman’s Yisrael Beitenu Party that initiated a similar law here at home, and which acts as a matter of course against Israeli human rights organizations.

Haaretz’s expose thus provided us with an important reminder: Just as in Russia, Israel’s civil society is under attack. During Netanyahu's outgoing administration, we have been witness to a slew of accusations against organizations that further the cause of human rights in the territories and work for the equality of rights of Arab Israelis, as if those organizations were serving as enemy agents.

Activists in refugee aid organizations are perceived as undermining the Jewish character of the state, and peace organizations are depicted as a “virus.” These lies have become established in the public discourse, crossing the line between legitimate criticism of these organizations and the forceful step of delegitimizing the freedom of expression and of organization in Israel.

Lest one forget, the anti-democratic stream in Israel has not sufficed with just words. Faina Kirschenbaum, an MK and confidante of Liberman, initiated a bill to brand human rights organizations as “supported by foreign entities” (very similar to Putin’s law) and to forbid them from receiving de facto donations from abroad.

It was only due to the public criticism and involvement of other politicians, such as Likud ministers Dan Meridor and Benny Begin, that some of these bills were blocked and others were watered down. However, the power of the extremists is increasing and we should not be surprised if, after the elections, the attacks on human rights organizations resume—including bills that would make it difficult for them to function. Lieberman will of course be there in support, whether as a minister or Knesset member, or even as a politician in the defendant’s dock.

How can Lieberman permit himself to take such a two-faced position? How can he raise a hand for democracy in Russia and, at the same time, he raise the other hand against democracy in Israel? It is hard to avoid the conclusion that Lieberman feels no barrier to this contradictory behavior because the dam has already been breached.

The vehemence against the human rights community in Israel has accelerated in recent years under the sponsorship of a nationalist extremism, and has been whipped up further in a violent, forceful, and racist direction. This is the spirit championed by Lieberman, and this is what enables him to undermine the strength of civil society in Israel, while he acts to prevent a similar move in Russia.

Despite the fact that anti-democratic legislation is not a key factor in the election, the fear exists that it will return to the agenda of the next, 19th Knesset. This is therefore the time for all of us to take a stand against this doubletalk and for the preservation of civil society as an essential component of democracy. In Israel, not just in Russia.

Rachel Liel is the executive director of the New Israel Fund.