Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., June 28, 2009 Tamuz 6, 5769 | | Israel Time: 17:10 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Focus U.S.A. Travel Week's End Anglo File
Share |
Last update - 17:10 28/06/2009
VIEWPOINT: Israel's merry band of Klansmen, the extreme right
By Benjamin L. Hartman
Tags: Israeli Arabs 

The extreme right's instigator-in-chief, Itamar Ben-Gvir, told Haaretz this week that the decision to cancel a march planned to take place in Umm al-Fahm, Israel's second largest Arab city, was a violation of freedom of speech.

Marches of this sort are incendiary and pointless, but the worst of all, and the ones that most resemble the attempted Umm al-Fahm march, are the repeated attempts by the KKK to march through Skokie, Illinois, a suburb of Illinois that not coincidentally houses a sizable community of Holocaust survivors.

In such a case, the desire to march has nothing to do with protest, or the protection of individual rights, but is rather a cynical attempt to publicly denigrate and offend the sensitivities of an entire community.
Advertisement
Ben-Gvir claimed a liberal, anti-right wing double-standard was at play. How else can one explain the decision to allow a gay pride parade in Jerusalem, or to allow far-left activists to hold protest marches in Hebron, while Israeli patriots such as he were barred from marching through Israel's second largest Arab city?

An appeal to the principles of a liberal western democracy is ironic coming from an Israeli fascist, much more so from one who if he and his ilk had the way would expel all Arabs from Israel, on the way to making Israel gentilerein and forever a rogue state relegated to the eventual dustbin of history.

For such people to compare themselves to those who sought to march in Jerusalem in order to express their desire to live as an equal, fully recognized community in Israel regardless of their sexual preference, would be funny if it weren't true.

Through their petition to hold such a dangerous and inciteful march Ben-Gvir and his partners in grime Baruch "let's declare a holy war against homosexuals" Marzel and Nadia Matar, bear a striking resemblance to the Ku Klux Klan, albeit wrapped in the Israeli flag instead of white sheets.

In every American city, nearly every year, a petition for a parade permit is issued by a few wayward members of the Klan, usually outnumbered 10 to one by journalists, and 500 to one by demonstrating opponents. More often than not, the Klansmen cite freedom of speech as the reason to allow the marches to proceed.

And what is it that Ben-Gvir, Marzel and their minions were hoping to accomplish? Were they looking to express the rights of Israeli Jews to live in Umm al-Fahm, or were they just looking for a podium on which they could cry foul, and say their rights were violated by a Supreme Court in the pocket of radical homosexuals?

This isn't to say that all right-wing political marches are the same. A march in Hebron supporting the rights of the Jewish enclave in the West Bank city is valid because it is a fact on the ground, a status quo that calls to be defended or fought against. A march in the Golan Heights against a peace deal in Syria would also be a valid display of the rights of Israelis to stay put in communities they founded on land that may one day be given away for a peace that could be tenuous at best. But Umm al-Fahm? What rights of Jews are being exploited there? Which Jewish community is threatened in the capital of Israel's Islamic movement?

This march, like the one in Skokie and any like it, is provocation for the sake of provocation, creating a storm because you like to watch the thunderclouds roll in.

In Israel, our Klansmen can't be laughed off or dismissed as a joke. In our democracy, they run for Knesset, control whole communities, and hold the Israel Defense Forces subject to their will on a daily basis.

Ultimately, it would be comforting if such Israeli extremists were, like the Klansmen, dinosaurs from a different era, whose marches and hatred are now becoming thankfully extinct.


Previous blogs:
  • Bush's final days: What W can teach Olmert about exit strategy
  • Sarah Palin as Olmert? Free flights, fancy clothes and life of luxury
  • Some drinking games to help Americans in Israel make it through election night
  • U.S. debate / Forget Obama and McCain - Joe the Plumber for president
  • VP debate / Palin beats the odds, fails to be field dressed by Biden
  • Fourth quarter jitters reveal the pain and dejection of being a Democrat
    • PROMOTION: Mamilla Hotel
    Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    'Shun MIA messages'
    Lebanon tells citizens to ignore calls for info on Ron Arad, other missing Israeli troops
    Bringing back Gilad
    Report: Arab sources also say abducted soldier Shalit to be handed over to Egypt soon
      1.   Mr Hartman`s opinion 12:33  |  Vladimir 15/12/08
      2.   language 13:20  |  ron 15/12/08
      3.   Israel`s Left Wing Double Standards 13:21  |  Boaoz 15/12/08
      4.   absurd comparison 13:36  |  Moshe 15/12/08
      5.   It is, after all, your nation Mr. Hartman 13:51  |  Mark Lincoln 15/12/08
      6.   DERA BEN STOP THINKING LIKE NAN AMERICAN AND GET INTO THE REAL WO 13:58  |  victor hardman 15/12/08
      7.   Gay Pride in Mea Shearim 14:02  |  peter 15/12/08
      8.   who is a fascist? 14:15  |  no name 15/12/08
      9.   Ridiculous 14:28  |  Ofer 15/12/08
      10.   Incitement against the Right 14:33  |  Dr. David Feigenbaum 15/12/08
      11.   Ever looked at yourself sir, you advocate a fascist democracy 14:34  |  Harvey 15/12/08
      12.   Hartman Knows Nothing About Democracy 14:35  |  Ralph levy 15/12/08
      13.   The KKK was against blacks because of the color of their skin 14:40  |  Zev 15/12/08
      14.   The mere fact that marching with an Israeli flag 14:42  |  Beni 15/12/08
      15.   Their goals in Umm al-Fahm 15:06  |  kach cognoscento 15/12/08
      16.   You are wrong Mr. Hartman 15:22  |  Israeli 15/12/08
      17.   I agree 15:26  |  Dave 15/12/08
      18.   Real Issues 16:23  |  j10 15/12/08
      19.   Democracy is failing...................... 16:41  |  John Allen 15/12/08
      20.   John Allen is continueing his blog.... 16:56  |  John Allen 15/12/08
      21.   ben and what do the nice people acheive ? 17:05  |  v.hardman 15/12/08
      22.   #5 Mark Lincoln should be more concerned 17:07  |  John Allen 15/12/08
      23.   To John Allen in Kansas 17:13  |  David James Vickery 15/12/08
      24.   Excellent, article 17:24  |  DW 15/12/08
      25.   boaz 17:26  |  A.M. 15/12/08
      26.   An absurd comparison 17:32  |  Michael N 15/12/08
      27.   Liberal Fascists 17:51  |  Yacov 15/12/08
      28.   Using troops to attack women & children; throwing Jews out .... 17:59  |  George 15/12/08
      29.   Black Codes, Arab Codes 17:59  |  TimothyL 15/12/08
      30.   These Rightists Are the State 18:14  |  Yaakov Sullivan 15/12/08
      31.   George from Washington on Fascists 18:54  |  Yaakov Sullivan 15/12/08
      32.   The Core of the Difference 18:59  |  ZADOK 15/12/08
      33.   John Allen on Events In His Backyard 18:59  |  Yaakov Sullivan 15/12/08
      34.   What is a LIBERAL democracy or better yet 19:08  |  Kris Lazar 15/12/08
      35.   the comparison stinks 19:25  |  Jer 15/12/08
      36.   To # 17 19:26  |  Tom Clark 15/12/08
      37.   Oye, the rapid-right again.... 19:26  |  Esther 15/12/08
      38.   #22, George..."the terrorist state of Gaza?" 19:34  |  Silvienne 15/12/08
      39.   #19, John Allen has a good point... 19:37  |  Silvienne 15/12/08
      40.   Typical demagogery - create a strawman, then destroy it 19:38  |  Boris 15/12/08
      41.   Interesting experiences 21:03  |  Yamin Salahi 15/12/08
      42.   Different sets of standards 21:35  |  Arie 15/12/08
      43.   Different sets of standards 21:39  |  Arie 15/12/08
      44.   Hey, soon they will march through the offices of Haaretz! 21:46  |  Andreas 15/12/08
      45.   Comparing patriotic Jews to Nazis? Pure idiocy! 21:50  |  Chaim 15/12/08
      46.   kahana`s inheritance 22:03  |  amos 15/12/08
      47.   Brilliant analysis and analogy, Hats off to Hartman! 22:23  |  Ivar 15/12/08
      48.   Arie #39... the most vociferous, the most obnoxious,,, 22:43  |  Esther 15/12/08
      49.   Chaim #41... had those belligerent ill-intentioned... 22:53  |  Esther 15/12/08
      50.   Free Speech is one thing, but inciting hatred is a crime 23:10  |  Johan Odin 15/12/08
      51.   question yaakov sullivan 23:16  |  Arie 15/12/08
      52.   They said the same about Jaboatinsky, Begin, . . . 23:20  |  Zev Davis 15/12/08
      53.   To Esther from TA-Selective freedoms? 23:25  |  Arie 15/12/08
      54.   "The capital of Israel`s Islamic movement": the real KKK 23:36  |  Realist 15/12/08
      55.   Arie 23:38  |  Dave Duncan 15/12/08
      56.   #45 odious odin and more garbage about israel 23:40  |  victor hardman 15/12/08
      57.   No, Arie #50... you`ve got it wrong... 00:27  |  Esther 16/12/08
      58.   Israel`s Merry Band of Klansman 00:37  |  birenbad 16/12/08
      59.   Arie can`t yell "FIRE" in a movie theatre... 00:44  |  BBSNews 16/12/08
      60.   Bad analogy 00:57  |  Colin Wright 16/12/08
      61.   re #9 Dr. David Feigenbaum `Incitement...` 01:01  |  Colin Wright 16/12/08
      62.   Mr.Hartman You Have Shown Your Double Dealing.Why? 01:08  |  Kathy 16/12/08
      63.   Israel`s Merry Band of Klansman 01:10  |  birenbad 16/12/08
      64.   #Arie ALL POSTS. TRIED TO SEND POSTS,MY FEELINGS CORRESPOND WITH 01:16  |  KATHY 16/12/08
      65.   Another way the Klan analogy is off 01:17  |  Colin Wright 16/12/08
      66.   #54 Esther. Judea & Samaria are Israel. 01:19  |  Chaim 16/12/08
      67.   #3 Boaoz A disgustingly double standard article And Surprised?? 01:24  |  Kathy 16/12/08
      68.   #51 The man up there is a rabid anti-Israel?????? 01:31  |  KATHY 16/12/08
      69.   #47 Johan Odin "the boffin" About your Country and Shut It 01:37  |  Kathy 16/12/08
      70.   #60 And have you been in Umm al-Fahm,or in Israel?/ 01:52  |  Ross 16/12/08
      71.   Duncan-READ my posts! 02:15  |  Arie 16/12/08
      72.   to bbs:You now speak for `everyone`? 02:20  |  Arie 16/12/08
      73.   Arie-"Come home to Israel?" 02:24  |  Arie 16/12/08
      74.   The "Free Speech Facade"...an armed thumb in the eye 02:42  |  Gray 16/12/08
      75.   Free Speech Facade; Really An Armed Provocation 02:49  |  Gray 16/12/08
      76.   Pathetic 02:57  |  Da Vinci 16/12/08
      77.   #73 Arie I am Off Fed Up With the likes of Esther:Coming Home 02:57  |  Ross 16/12/08
      78.   #44 Andreas..Your Caption.Oh,Oh How Lovely That Would Be!! 03:22  |  Mayim 16/12/08
      79.   Arie, the Golan belongs to Syria... 03:24  |  BBSNews 16/12/08
      80.   Yes Arie, everyone does know... 03:30  |  BBSNews 16/12/08
      81.   Haaretz is racist 03:36  |  Gili 16/12/08
      82.   #28 George Glad I saw Your Post.RIGHT ON POINTS.&MONTREAL peter.. 03:40  |  Ross 16/12/08
      83.   WHY are Israeli Arab MK calls for Israels destruction acceptable? 03:56  |  PETER SM 16/12/08
      84.   to peter #7 04:26  |  zeev 16/12/08
      85.   RIGHT Wing Hypocrisy & Free Speech Forums 04:28  |  Gray 16/12/08
      86.   Kathy`s problem,one of them. 04:52  |  Ben 16/12/08
      87.   to Chaim #45 04:54  |  zeev 16/12/08
      88.   Something I just noticed 04:55  |  Colin Wright 16/12/08
      89.   Zev - the Klan 05:23  |  Mark Lincoln 16/12/08
      90.   The title of this essay should read : 05:26  |  Schmidlap 16/12/08
      91.   I have seen the Klan 05:28  |  Mark Lincoln 16/12/08
      92.   A Jew calling another Jew "Nazi", the real tragedy 05:38  |  Moises 16/12/08
      93.   I wish, hope and pray that 05:42  |  Mark Lincoln 16/12/08
      94.   Freedom to march with the flag 05:52  |  Great White North 16/12/08
      95.   Ross; About Esther and "those leftists"..... 06:04  |  Gray 16/12/08
      96.   This article is simply awesome! 06:18  |  Northern 16/12/08
      97.   Deny for one, deny for all 06:23  |  Kostya G. 16/12/08
      98.   Ross, you just "divided" Esther from you... 06:28  |  BBSNews 16/12/08
      99.   M.Lincoln News for you the Klan exists in the USA today 07:16  |  PETER SM 16/12/08
      100.   HYPPOCRITES 07:25  |  judith 16/12/08
      101.   Freedom of speech does not depend on the number of speakers 07:26  |  judith 16/12/08
      102.   Ben :Re: Real "Haters" 07:35  |  Gray 16/12/08
      103.   Wow. Great article. 07:39  |  peacelover 16/12/08
      104.   2nd time today 08:23  |  circumcision nurse 16/12/08
      105.   Israeli Flag = Burning Cross 09:20  |  Joe 16/12/08
      106.   Peacelover, you don`t spread Peace by . . . 09:30  |  Zev Davis 16/12/08
      107.   shame!! 09:56  |  carlo 16/12/08
      108.   It is actually the left 10:49  |  Zev 16/12/08
      109.   Get the balance right 12:57  |  Joe 16/12/08
      110.   to Zev #105 14:32  |  zeev 16/12/08
      111.   Tit for tat for Leftist rights to demonstrate 15:30  |  Ilan 16/12/08
      112.   to zeev #105 - why stateless 15:31  |  Zev 16/12/08
      113.   EVERYONE IN ISRAEL MARCHES 15:49  |  G-D HELP US 16/12/08
      114.   Ross:Esther is the typical appeasing TA leftist 16:01  |  Arie 16/12/08
      115.   bbs:The Golan legally is unlike gaza or the West Bank 16:05  |  Arie 16/12/08
      116.   bbs:land ownership? make you a deal 16:07  |  Arie 16/12/08
      117.   bbs:promoting different standards again 16:11  |  Arie 16/12/08
      118.   Not in a hundred years will there be peace in D ME 16:28  |  Simon 16/12/08
      119.   #105 Zev It is actually the left.. 17:31  |  Ross 16/12/08
      120.   they didn`t LET the gays parade in mea sharim, peter! 17:37  |  michelle 16/12/08
      121.   #107 Zeev,Zeev For goodness sake..Think man.. 17:37  |  Ross 16/12/08
      122.   #91 Mark Lincoln..A DISGRACEFUL COMPARISON SORRY 17:42  |  Kathy 16/12/08
      123.   #111 Arie..To My Discomfiture I have to Agree with you. 17:56  |  Ross 16/12/08
      124.   PURITY OF ARMS 17:57  |  jew 16/12/08
      125.   occupation? 18:18  |  bentzy 16/12/08
      126.   So it is not Racism to Ban Jews from Israeli Towns... 20:51  |  UsedToPostHere 16/12/08
      127.   #87 Zeev. Congrats on 2 totally irrelevant responses. 21:07  |  Chaim 16/12/08
      128.   #95 Gray. American taxpayers don`t keep us afloat. 21:10  |  Chaim 16/12/08
      129.   #86 Hey Benny Boy..where was my hatred?can You point me to it? 21:57  |  Kathy 16/12/08
      130.   #126.Great, so when are you sending back my money? 23:14  |  Comrade2070 16/12/08
      131.   #126 UsedTo PostHere..It is really a funny Ha,ha the whole thing. 23:18  |  Kathy 16/12/08
      132.   to Zev #112 02:55  |  zeev 17/12/08
      133.   to Chaim #127 03:30  |  zeev 17/12/08
      134.   to Ross #121 04:05  |  zeev 17/12/08
      135.   to Zeev #132 10:49  |  Zev 17/12/08
      136.   to Zev #135 13:13  |  zeev 17/12/08
      137.   Hey Zeev it`s only us 15:28  |  Zev 17/12/08
      138.   Getting to peace 19:08  |  MarkH 17/12/08
      139.   to Zev #137 15:08  |  zeev 18/12/08
      140.   To Prof. Zeev 16:29  |  Zev 18/12/08
      141.   Israel`s Merry Band of Klansmen 00:09  |  Larry Nash 19/12/08
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    hotel Jerusalem
    David Citadel Hotel, come stay at the finest of Jerusalem hotels.
    ISRAEL ARMY SURPLUS STORE
    IDF insignia,Uniforms, Paladium Boots Watches, Israel Army T-shirts & Collectibles
    Dead Sea Skin Care
    Quality cosmetics from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 12% off!
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    More Headlines
    13:49 Hamas: No truth in media storm over Shalit deal
    11:51 Netanyahu: EU receptive to Israel stance on Palestinian statehood
    11:41 ANALYSIS / Shalit has become the key to Mideast peace
    14:33 Israel: Lebanon still responsible for any Hezbollah attacks
    14:48 U.K. denounces Iran embassy detentions as 'intimidation'
    16:46 Dead Sea eliminated from '7 wonders' contest after Palestinian complaint
    12:11 Israel, Egypt negotiate terms of new Gaza truce
    20:58 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel
    15:54 Haim Ramon to announce resignation from Knesset
    08:16 Second IDF soldier refuses to serve over violence towards Palestinians
    16:54 Despite Iran pressure, Peres to visit Azerbijan and Kazakhstan
    12:02 Kosher CouchSurfing: Israeli students launch Jewish hospitality scheme
    15:45 Israeli fans angry at rumors Michael Jackson killed himself
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |
    | Israel 2009 election results | Makom: Engaging on Israel
    | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved