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Last update - 01:58 13/01/2009
Israel bans Arab parties from running in upcoming elections
By Shahar Ilan and Roni Singer-Heruti, Haaretz Correspondents and The Associated Press
Tags: Arab, elections, Israel news 

The Central Elections Committee (CEC) yesterday banned the Arab parties United Arab List-Ta'al and Balad from running in next month's parliamentary elections amid accusations of racism from Arab MKs. Both parties intend to challenge the decision in the Supreme Court.

Members of the CEC conceded yesterday that the chance of the Supreme Court's upholding the ban on both parties was slim.

Arab faction delegates in the CEC walked out of the hall before the vote, shouting, "this is a fascist, racist state." As they walked out, CEC deputy chairman MK David Tal (Kadima) and the Arab delegates pushed each other and a Knesset guard had to intervene and separate them.
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The CEC voted overwhelmingly in favor of the motions, accusing the country's Arab parties of incitement, supporting terrorist groups and refusing to recognize Israel's right to exist.

The requests to ban the Arab parties were filed by two ultra right parties Yisrael Beiteinu and National Union-National Religious Party.

Senior Labor Party figures lashed out at the party's CEC representative, Eitan Cabel, who voted in favor of banning the two Arab parties.

"[MK] Shelly Yachimovich and I thought we must object to the move to ban the Arab lists for reasons of freedom of expression," said Social Affairs Minister Isaac Herzog. "The minority's right to be heard must be preserved," he said.

MK Ophir Pines (Labor) said from overseas that he strongly objected to Labor's stance in the vote and that it was not the position that had been agreed on.

Labor chairman Ehud Barak, however, did not comment on the vote and his aides said he would not deal with political issues these days.

Cabel tried to explain his support of the ban, despite Labor's decision to vote against it.

"It's true we said we wouldn't ban, but [Balad leader MK Jamal] Zahalka's statement that he was in touch with Bishara led me to think that we must draw the line somewhere," he said. "I'm making no apologies because I fight more than most in the Knesset for equal rights for Arabs. I know it won't stand up in the Supreme Court, and rightly so, because there is no evidentiary basis for the [committee's] decision."

Members of the the new Meretz alignment reacted angrily to the decision.

"Labor and Kadima's position is a declaration of war on Israel's Arab citizens," a party member said. "Do Barak and Livni really prefer blocking Israel's Arabs' right to parliamentary activity and driving them to street demonstrations?"

"Every time a clear statement to ensure basic civil rights of the Arab minority is required, Labor and Kadima choose to side with the radical right wing for populist motives, to deprive the Arabs of their fundamental democratic rights," party chairman Haim Oron said.

Arab lawmakers Ahmed Tibi and Zahalka, political rivals who head the two Arab blocs in the Knesset, joined together in condemning yesterday's decision.

"It was a political trial led by a group of fascists and racists who are willing to see the Knesset without Arabs and want to see the country without Arabs," said Tibi.

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      1.   Democracy? 18:58  |  sam 12/01/09
      2.   What a blow to democracy 19:01  |  Pieboy 12/01/09
      3.   Response to Democracy 19:06  |  BackDude 12/01/09
      4.   Did not Britain ban Sinn Fein? 19:26  |  Angel 12/01/09
      5.   The Difference 19:44  |  Miransky 12/01/09
      6.   Apartheid... 19:45  |  Christos Proukakis 12/01/09
      7.   And KACH? 19:46  |  Raj Gupta 12/01/09
      8.   Banning Bishara 19:46  |  Binyamin 12/01/09
      9.   shockingly stupid 19:55  |  Leonard Levy 12/01/09
      10.   4 Angel. No we never banned Sinn Fein. 19:55  |  Michael 12/01/09
      11.   Very few Zionists will support this measure 19:56  |  Serge 12/01/09
      12.   # Binyamin the sofist... 19:57  |  Mordechai 12/01/09
      13.   When Israel advertises itself as - 20:00  |  Bitin Dawg 12/01/09
      14.   Israel bans Arab Parties. 20:19  |  David Nigel Braham 12/01/09
      15.   Ait`s About Time! 20:21  |  Joseph 12/01/09
      16.   #1 Sam 20:21  |  Turkish Jew 12/01/09
      17.   i agree 20:24  |  riki 12/01/09
      18.   To all of the above contributors I 20:26  |  Yair 12/01/09
      19.   What happened to `I dissaprove of what you say but I will defend 20:38  |  Gail 12/01/09
      20.   even in democracies... 20:38  |  Michael 12/01/09
      21.   Haaretz misleading, only 2parties banned 20:40  |  Bob 12/01/09
      22.   comments questioning democracy 20:40  |  Amit 12/01/09
      23.   you don have to expell arab parties..but trial the traitors.. 20:41  |  Josef 12/01/09
      24.   Banning of Arab parties from Israeli elections 20:41  |  Joshua Miller 12/01/09
      25.   The only democracy in the middle east is... 20:45  |  Fergg 12/01/09
      26.   Banning political parties 20:45  |  Henry Michalski 12/01/09
      27.   Now i understand everything 20:46  |  Pablo 12/01/09
      28.   An Opportunity 20:48  |  Mark of Lewiston 12/01/09
      29.   Ban the Transferists 20:49  |  Binyamin 12/01/09
      30.   Wanting To See Israel Without Arabs? 20:53  |  Bill Foonman 12/01/09
      31.   Crazy! It`s like banning jews in the US because of ties to Israe 20:53  |  American Voter 12/01/09
      32.   Banning parties 20:55  |  Maerton 12/01/09
      33.   Michael - Wrong comparison! 20:56  |  Wrong! 12/01/09
      34.   Awful 20:57  |  Howard Cuckle 12/01/09
      35.   a bad idea 20:57  |  Andrew 12/01/09
      36.   Absolute dictatorship of majority looming? 20:57  |  David 12/01/09
      37.   Arab parties should be baned 20:58  |  kim 12/01/09
      38.   Traitors shouldn`t be allowed to run in elections. 20:58  |  Arthur 12/01/09
      39.   Oh no, the censor`s getting nervous again! 20:59  |  Michael 12/01/09
      40.   Paranoia 21:01  |  Gilbert 12/01/09
      41.   Openly mortal enemy must be dealt with . 21:02  |  TOMY 12/01/09
      42.   Like in Iran!! 21:06  |  Sephardic_portuguese 12/01/09
      43.   They don`t know how to deal with democracy anyway 21:08  |  Richard 12/01/09
      44.   Bombs, Bans and Ballots 21:09  |  chris 12/01/09
      45.   It`s about time 21:09  |  Roy 12/01/09
      46.   Iraq is now the US`s ONLY democratic friend in the Middle East 21:35  |  Pablo B 12/01/09
      47.   houston we have a problem 21:38  |  zaq 12/01/09
      48.   Its about time for them to go. 21:39  |  Ben 12/01/09
      49.   Next step - expulsion 21:40  |  Mark Lincoln 12/01/09
      50.   Israel bans Arab parties 21:45  |  André 12/01/09
      51.   The downfall of Israel 21:45  |  Greg 12/01/09
      52.   Abraham Lincoln-Mild Sedition? 21:45  |  P. Abelard 12/01/09
      53.   Did not Britain ban Sinn Fein? 21:58  |  Tadhg 12/01/09
      54.   Angel 22:01  |  John 12/01/09
      55.   do the Jews have Ayatollahs? 22:03  |  cal 12/01/09
      56.   #39 22:03  |  Hal 12/01/09
      57.   4. Angel = Nazism 22:04  |  Az man 12/01/09
      58.   This is 22:06  |  Wayne Kurt 12/01/09
      59.   Re: Roy post 49 22:10  |  John D 12/01/09
      60.   Nurnberg laws 22:11  |  Dado 12/01/09
      61.   Another Iranian democracy? 22:29  |  Citizen of the World 12/01/09
      62.   Quebec Seperatists openly undermine Canada. 22:30  |  Eytan 12/01/09
      63.   A great mistake... a moral defeat.... 22:39  |  Esther 12/01/09
      64.   the Levy is breaking 22:42  |  a voice 12/01/09
      65.   America did Worse when it had Hostile Parties in Times of War 22:57  |  UsedToPostHere 12/01/09
      66.   Meretz was Against When Labour Supported 22:59  |  Samuel C. 12/01/09
      67.   Arab Parties 23:00  |  S Cohen 12/01/09
      68.   Let them run, then persecute for colaboration with D enemy 23:00  |  Simon 12/01/09
      69.   Israel bans Arab parties from running in upcoming elections 23:01  |  zoot 12/01/09
      70.   We salute Israeli Jews 23:03  |  Salina 12/01/09
      71.   Michael - Haaretsz Moderators 23:03  |  David Israel 12/01/09
      72.   I want to see the party`s platform before I decide 23:03  |  Israeli 12/01/09
      73.   Good! 23:09  |  Lucy 12/01/09
      74.   Jews can run in Iran - more democratic than Israel 23:10  |  Orren Merton 12/01/09
      75.   The Beginning of the End 23:10  |  Yaakov Sullivan 12/01/09
      76.   Israel should ban sectarian parties & have only 2 or 3 parties 23:11  |  Tee Gee 12/01/09
      77.   banning Israeli arabs from running for office 23:11  |  shmuel 12/01/09
      78.   the only democracy in the middle east ? 23:13  |  phil 12/01/09
      79.   And let me preempt my inevital detractors... 23:13  |  Esther 12/01/09
      80.   Absolutely Meaningless! 23:18  |  Neil 12/01/09
      81.   54 They already violated their mandate in the Knesset 23:23  |  Simon 12/01/09
      82.   Absolutely Meaningless! 23:23  |  Neil 12/01/09
      83.   Last Straw 23:27  |  Doug 12/01/09
      84.   Arab Parties Again! 23:28  |  S Cohen 12/01/09
      85.   Esther #61, right to vote 23:28  |  Jeremy 12/01/09
      86.   The end of Gaza and Hamas is near 23:29  |  Muslim Yakub Sulivan 12/01/09
      87.   #4 Angel - Sinn Fein was not banned 23:37  |  Boycott 12/01/09
      88.   #4 Angel here I go again 23:45  |  Angel 12/01/09
      89.   Did the Apartheid dust finally settle on Israel? 23:48  |  Realist 12/01/09
      90.   horrifying 23:49  |  matt 12/01/09
      91.   Banning Arab Parties 23:59  |  C. Fischer 12/01/09
      92.   Election 23:59  |  Massein 12/01/09
      93.   Banning 00:00  |  rebbe soul 13/01/09
      94.   A short-sighted decision 00:01  |  Jonathan 13/01/09
      95.   Concern over anti-Semitic attacks in Europe 00:04  |  English Resident 13/01/09
      96.   Banning Arab parties 00:22  |  Nancy 13/01/09
      97.   I believe Israel has become an Apartheid state 00:22  |  Attempt#18 13/01/09
      98.   israel bans arab parties 00:25  |  Dror 13/01/09
      99.   Mazaltov, can you imagine them singing Hatikva 00:27  |  harvey 13/01/09
      100.   Israel bans its enemies from elections. 00:28  |  Dudka 13/01/09
      101.   Arabs 20%? 00:31  |  David 13/01/09
      102.   A Mistaken Strategy 00:32  |  Paul K 13/01/09
      103.   Congress pledges to follow the constitution 00:36  |  Nathaniel 13/01/09
      104.   72 Esther, perhaps you ARE a Queen! 00:38  |  KYOT 13/01/09
      105.   Let them run in Gaza and plead for Jewish candidates there 00:40  |  I 4 I 13/01/09
      106.   Britain effectively banned Sinn Fein from Parliament 02:32  |  Stephen 13/01/09
      107.   What! 02:44  |  Cynic 13/01/09
      108.   do you need to prove that you are racist? 05:17  |  anthony web 13/01/09
      109.   Jewish, not democratic 05:30  |  Steve 13/01/09
      110.   I don`t understand why these arabs who want the destruction of 05:30  |  Susanna/Shoshana 13/01/09
      111.   The US will not support it 05:55  |  Dean 13/01/09
      112.   In USA: Jews 2% but have 13 Senators and 06:32  |  Obama 13/01/09
      113.   TO Angel #4 - So predictable 06:46  |  Steve Beikirch 13/01/09
      114.   Muslims abuse freedom 06:59  |  Sam 13/01/09
      115.   Arab parties 06:59  |  John Stein 13/01/09
      116.   In Arab countries there are no Jewish parties 07:10  |  B. Hussein Yomama 13/01/09
      117.   Parties surely get banned in the west, it they 07:11  |  Kris Lazar 13/01/09
      118.   Bad PR 07:38  |  MarkC 13/01/09
      119.   Why? 07:40  |  Joan-Enric Torrent 13/01/09
      120.   CFISHER Arab parties are not banned 08:15  |  PETER SM 13/01/09
      121.   Joan-Enric Torrent.Please read the article not the misleading 08:17  |  PETER SM 13/01/09
      122.   MICHAEL He has not printed ANY of my posts while the distortions 08:20  |  PETER SM 13/01/09
      123.   Thanks to Ha`aretz for encouraging anti-Semitism 08:31  |  Bernard Cohen 13/01/09
      124.   Ridiculous 08:32  |  Dror 13/01/09
      125.   "the only democracy in the Middle East" 08:33  |  Janice 13/01/09
      126.   #6 Did Britain ban the Sinn-Fein from elections,mister Proukakis? 08:35  |  Hastaroth 13/01/09
      127.   From a paper that censors tb this is funny 08:40  |  Ilan 13/01/09
      128.   2nd try to point out the hypocrisy in this 08:46  |  Johnboy 13/01/09
      129.   "only Democracy in "Middle East" 08:47  |  Yossi Normal Jew 13/01/09
      130.   Banning arab parties 08:49  |  David 13/01/09
      131.   An Arab is an Arab is an Arab 09:46  |  Doug 13/01/09
      132.   Isaac Herzog is right: Israel`s survival depends on freedom 09:47  |  Ivar 13/01/09
      133.   SInn Fein and the UK 09:55  |  Sean 13/01/09
      134.   Democracy: Israeli-style 10:01  |  Clickfool 13/01/09
      135.   Bernard Cohen - I was not aware that Haaretz is the Government 13:57  |  Mark Lincoln 13/01/09
      136.   Not banned for being Arab 14:29  |  Jackie 13/01/09
      137.   Re: Quebec Seperatists openly undermine Canada. 18:20  |  Pierre-Luc 13/01/09
      138.   Oppressing minorities is showing the true face of Israel 19:18  |  Aounist 13/01/09
      139.   Arab parties 20:47  |  Elina 13/01/09
      140.   Aretz Yisrael 23:10  |  I. Kocher 13/01/09
      141.   Steve Beikirch # 113 Good post 23:12  |  American in NY 13/01/09
      142.   Banning Arab Parties 06:08  |  Tony Greenstein 14/01/09
      143.   Democracy endangered 15:55  |  Mladen 14/01/09
      144.   Ridiculously Absurd 22:26  |  Heather 15/01/09
      145.   Banning arabs is banning a race... 18:00  |  Democracy 20/01/09
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