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Last update - 21:21 19/07/2009
Labor Min. to Lieberman: Nakba bill sullies Israel's image
By Haaretz Service

A bill banning state funding for groups that mark the Palestinian Nakba sullies Israel's image in the world, Labor party minister Avishay Braverman (Labor) told Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman on Sunday.

Braverman's comments came a few hours after the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee approved the bill, which was submitted by Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party.

"To my sorrow, instead of acting to strengthen the connection with the Arab citizens of Israel and acting to grant them equal rights, there are people today who for political reasons adopt bills that might strengthen them amongst the voting public, but at the same time harm the fragile fabric of Jewish-Arab relations in Israel and also defame Israel in the world," Braverman said during a cabinet meeting.
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Nakba ("catastrophe") day commemorates Israel's independence as a day of mourning.

At the ministerial meeting, only Agriculture Minister Shalom Simhon (Labor) voted against the proposal.

Lieberman responded to Braverman, who is Minority Affairs minister, by saying that the bill had actually been softened.

"If you just want a headline then that's alright," Lieberman said. "But the law now speaks only about activities by local authorities."

The bill is the revised version of a proposed law scrapped two months ago - after opposition from several ministers - that would have forbidden Israeli Arabs from commemorating the Nakba, or "catastrophe," on Independence Day.

MK Alex Miller (Yisrael Beiteinu), who submitted the bill, said: "The Israeli government today sent an important message to all who do not want the best for the state, and it said: 'enough to lawlessness.'"

The new bill prohibits funding of activities that reject the existence of the State of Israel as a Jewish state or deny the democratic character of the state.

It also outlaws funding for activities that fall within the definition of armed struggle or terrorist activities - by an enemy state or a terror organization - against Israel.

Additionally, the bill prohibits funding for activities that could harm the honor of the flag, the state or state symbols.

Arab MKs reacted with anger to the committee's approval of the bill.

Balad chairman Jamal Zahalka called the bill "a law of cowards that will not influence us. We will increase the commemoration of the Nakba."

United Arab list chairman Ahmed Tibi said that the government is in "hysteria against Arab citizens. The ministers are more toxic than the Border Police."


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      1.   A Good Start But Not Enough. 16:39  |  Robert 19/07/09
      2.   Israel is an authoritarian regime which does not merit US aid 16:40  |  Natallie Durson 19/07/09
      3.   What do you think? 16:41  |  Steven 19/07/09
      4.   You can`t have it both ways 17:20  |  Rod 19/07/09
      5.   Steve difference is the USA has recognised 17:39  |  shoval 19/07/09
      6.   Durson, your posts have too much authority 17:47  |  Israeli citizen 19/07/09
      7.   Steven, get a clue 17:51  |  Aphemia 19/07/09
      8.   ...and furthermore, Steven 18:13  |  Aphemia 19/07/09
      9.   #3 Rod - You have it all ways 18:16  |  Makevet 19/07/09
      10.   A mad law that can not be enforced 18:46  |  Israel 19/07/09
      11.   4 & 5 18:58  |  zionist forever 19/07/09
      12.   Does not stop free speech 19:28  |  Binyamin Dissen 19/07/09
      13.   Steven: quite possibly 19:52  |  AT 19/07/09
      14.   Natallie 20:12  |  Nasib 19/07/09
      15.   OK Then - That`s Better 20:23  |  Eli Wapniarski 19/07/09
      16.   Gov`t stops funding groups that don`t recognize it`s legitamicy 20:53  |  Avi 19/07/09
      17.   #3 You`re very wrong... 21:15  |  Josh 19/07/09
      18.   A fascist bill unworthy of the great tradition of 21:19  |  Golda 19/07/09
      19.   What`s wrong with this law ????? 21:25  |  Freddy 19/07/09
      20.   Does Lieberman care? 21:31  |  Mark Lincoln 19/07/09
      21.   Yes, and the Nakba sullies Israel`s history as well 21:34  |  peacelover 19/07/09
      22.   Waaaaaaw Steven 22:13  |  Fadi 19/07/09
      23.   The nakba shouldnt be funded by Israel! 22:30  |  Sal 19/07/09
      24.   Why this Bill wasn´t approved before? 22:36  |  Daniel 19/07/09
      25.   To 17 22:40  |  Daniel 19/07/09
      26.   Bravo Bravo 23:01  |  See 19/07/09
      27.   Labor Min. to Lieberman: Nakba bill sullies Israel`s image Haaret 23:33  |  daniel 19/07/09
      28.   Harming the honor of the flag, the state or state symbols 23:37  |  sh 19/07/09
      29.   kinda reminiscent of some german decrees of the early 1930`s 23:37  |  eric 19/07/09
      30.   Daniel on the negation of the State of Israel 23:43  |  sh 19/07/09
      31.   who cares about what other people think of Israels image 23:48  |  zionist forever 19/07/09
      32.   It isn`t a matter of free speech 23:57  |  Lynn 19/07/09
      33.   Why should Israel fund anti-Israel activities? 00:44  |  Observer 20/07/09
      34.   20 percent 00:56  |  MarcJ 20/07/09
      35.   Makevet #9 it might surprise you to learn 02:00  |  Rod 20/07/09
      36.   Nakba bill sullies Israel`s image? 02:05  |  Colin Wright 20/07/09
      37.   Josh #17 I`m guessing but.. 02:13  |  Rod 20/07/09
      38.   Nakba Bill Laundromat 02:19  |  Raffaele Ladu 20/07/09
      39.   Braverman the coward 02:31  |  Honi 20/07/09
      40.   Memo to Sal: Too late, Zionists paid for the Nakba 60 years ago 02:44  |  peacelover 20/07/09
      41.   Lieberman`s Nakba obsession 02:47  |  WHG 20/07/09
      42.   Natalie"mahomad"Durson 03:56  |  Michelle 20/07/09
      43.   #3Rod 04:08  |  Michelle 20/07/09
      44.   Robert in Montreal 05:08  |  Llyn 20/07/09
      45.   Unbelievable 05:53  |  Mick 20/07/09
      46.   Nakba, Australia day, Waitangi day, Colombus day etc 06:20  |  Hannah 20/07/09
      47.   #27 Hello Michelle in Sydney. 08:59  |  Maureen Ann 20/07/09
      48.   Not quite sure what you are saying Michelle? 13:40  |  Rod 20/07/09
      49.   You should learn to read Aphemia 15:18  |  Ki`emli 20/07/09
      50.   Perhaps you should learn to think, Kièmli? 16:15  |  Rod 20/07/09
      51.   @ Natallie Durson 17:09  |  Ralph 20/07/09
      52.   Right On Sal, funding nakba is tottaly in.sane 18:08  |  JP 20/07/09
      53.   ralph 20:20  |  h 20/07/09
      54.   How can we celebrate... 03:03  |  B Shabat 21/07/09
      55.   Sullying Israel`s image? 06:14  |  norman a blumberg 21/07/09
      56.   kinda reminiscent of OTHER nationalistic decrees, isn`t it?(3rd t 07:41  |  eric 21/07/09
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