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Abusing democracy By Avigdor Lieberman Tags: Jews, Israel, Knesset, Arabs In an opinion piece published in Haaretz on March 24, "The Vision of an Arab-free Knesset," Shahar Ilan wrote: "Those who seek to cast them [representatives of the Arab public] out will engender a process which, in a short period of time, could lead to the formation of an Israeli Arab parliament, calling for autonomy or an uprising in Israel." Unfortunately, aspirations for the creation of an Israeli Arab parliament, and for Arab autonomy in Israel, have been harbored for years by the leaders of Israel's Arab community. In a document entitled "The Future Vision of the Palestinian Arabs in Israel," drawn up by the National Committee for the Heads of the Arab Local Authorities in Israel, the manner in which this process would unfold is presented in detail. It should be added that making statements like "We will never recognize Israel as a Jewish state"; participating in the funerals of, and memorial services for, mass murderers; burning the Israeli flag; hurling rocks at vehicles; perpetrating near-lynches of Jerusalem municipal inspectors; and defining Israel Defense Forces operations intended to protect Sderot's residents as "crimes against humanity" - all contribute to the continued escalation exacerbated and supported by the Arab leadership in Israel. Advertisement I know of no other state that would allow its citizens such freedom of action. During the Falklands War, Argentinean soccer players on English teams were forced to return to Argentina. Only two weeks ago, in Spain, in a soccer match between Athletic de Bilbao and Valladolid, during a minute of silence for the member of a local council who had been assassinated two days earlier, fans shouted slogans supporting the Basque underground, ETA. Spain's state prosecutor's office immediately launched an investigation to identify those who had shown lack of respect for the murdered official's memory and his family; such disrespectful behavior in Spain is a crime punishable by a prison sentence. Only in Israel can citizens take the law into their own hands; only in Israel is lawlessness the law of the land. Article 5 of the National Flag, Symbol and Hymn Law specifies that "those who dishonor the national flag or national symbol ... or who employ the national flag or national symbol in a manner dishonoring the flag or symbol, are liable to a prison sentence of up to one year ..." Nonetheless, burning and otherwise dishonoring the Israeli flag have become routine actions. Every week assemblies are held in Arab towns throughout Israel; they are attended by members of the Arab leadership and include the burning of the Israeli flag. Yet the law that exists in our lawbooks is never enforced. Article 144, Section D(2) of Israel's penal code specifies that "those who issue a call to perpetrate an act of violence or terror, or who express praise for, sympathy with, or encouragement for an act of violence or terror, or who voice support for, or solidarity with, such an act ... are liable to a prison sentence of up to five years." There is no need to remind ourselves of the events of October 2000, nor of the Or Commission that investigated them, which concluded that, "there are solid grounds for asserting that the messages [of the Arab leadership] ... contributed substantially to the events that occurred in October 2000, through the encouragement and incitement of the public to adopt an aggressive, confrontational stand against the state and the police force acting on its behalf to maintain law and order." Is the law enforced? Of course not. The attempt to assign the Yisrael Beiteinu party negative labels and to represent our position on the Jewish people's rights to this land as racism and as incitement against the Arab population is a distortion of reality. I see no difference between the actions of Tali Fahima [who served a prison sentence for aiding Palestinian militants] and those of former Knesset member Azmi Bishara. The same holds true for Neturei Karta's Rabbi Moshe Hirsch and Sheikh Ra'ad Salah, leader of the northern branch of the Islamic Movement. Naturally, I do not support the violent struggle that the Higher Arab Monitoring Committee is promoting against young Israeli Arabs interested in volunteering for national service, who are turned into pariahs in Arab society. The only demand that can and should be made of Israel's citizens - whether Jewish, Muslim or Christian - is that they be loyal to the state and its values as a Jewish state. Just as the Jews of Morocco are loyal to its king, Israel's minority groups must be loyal to the state they live in. I am not advocating the silencing of protest or any infringement of freedom of expression; however, legitimate protest must be distinguished from the abuse of democracy. MK Avigdor Lieberman is chair of the Yisrael Beiteinu party. Bookmark to del.icio.us   My land, my country Israeli Arabs mark 32nd Land Day in demonstrations across the country. One voice It's hard to find differences in U.S. candidates' promises on peace process.   1.   Democracy? Israel? After a fashion, maybe 10:41  |  Natallie Durson 28/03/08   2.   " We must never say `What does it matter to me.." 10:42  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 28/03/08   3.   Seems that Article 144, Section D(2) is Selectivly Applied 10:50  |  Johan Odin 28/03/08   4.   "Never be afraid of telling the truth" 10:51  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 28/03/08   5.   The rt. Hon. Mr Lieberman - Cool Down! 10:52  |  Bader S Abu-Ghosh 28/03/08   6.   Secularism 10:53  |  ... 28/03/08   7.   " to change traditional institutions with modern institutions" 10:56  |  ... 28/03/08   8.   "Teachers are the one and only people who save nations" 11:00  |  ... 28/03/08   9.   Haaretz at least you spared us Julie Burchill, Melanie Philips 11:01  |  Chanalau, Tova 28/03/08   10.   "Those who want to live their lives without doing anything .." 11:05  |  ... 28/03/08   11.   ?Freedom and independence is my character.? 11:06  |  ... 28/03/08   12.   "As they have come, so they will go." 11:08  |  ... 28/03/08   13.   We don`t want Lieberman living under our flag 11:11  |  Tzfonit 28/03/08   14.   The reality is even worse than described in this article 11:13  |  Shalom Freedman 28/03/08   15.   !nutullie and the reason she posts total rubbish 11:15  |  v hardman 28/03/08   16.   " ....true master is the peasant." 11:16  |  ... 28/03/08   17.   " .. to discourage sentiments of jealousy, avarice and hate." 11:21  |  ... 28/03/08   18.   To Natallie: Abuse democracy 11:58  |  Altalena 28/03/08   19.   Israeli `Democracy" 12:18  |  Charlotte 28/03/08   20.   Exceptions for Indigenous Populations 12:25  |  yitz 28/03/08   21.   I know of no other state 12:37  |  jj burke 28/03/08   22.   # 2..Attilla, this illness can be defined.. 12:53  |  Stephen 28/03/08   23.   Lieberman 12:54  |  Anon 28/03/08   24.   Imagine Durson if American Jews demanded a separate Jewish flag 13:11  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 28/03/08   25.   To JJ Burke. Minority /majority & the laws 13:15  |  Altalena 28/03/08   26.   Do the Left wants a terrorist country in Israel ? 13:16  |  Akram Zekaria 28/03/08   27.   Johan Odin,in neighbouring Denmark pal arsonists 13:21  |  Absolute Sweden 28/03/08   28.   1# Natalle Durson. So what do you call Saudi 13:41  |  Akram Zekaria 28/03/08   29.   Woes and woes... 13:51  |  Esther 28/03/08   30.   What about him? 13:58  |  Joseba 28/03/08   31.   Call any Any Arab Country not an Islamic State and you will have 13:58  |  Akram Zekaria 28/03/08   32.   Soccer players on English teams? 14:08  |  Chris Linthwaite 28/03/08   33.   Always brings a smile 14:10  |  Chris Linthwaite 28/03/08   34.   Israel is the unique Jewish state 14:40  |  victor sondos 28/03/08   35.   Tzfonit you talk for yourself, don`t say `we`, say `I` 14:41  |  jennifer 28/03/08   36.   semites destined to fight one another for eons 14:45  |  bozhidar bob balkas 28/03/08   37.   why should they? 15:03  |  Sarah 28/03/08   38.   Only in Israel? 15:23  |  mlk 28/03/08   39.   so why don`t you apply the law to your jewish falks? 15:27  |  Zaki 28/03/08   40.   Lieberman Talks As If There Is Equality 15:36  |  Yaakov Sullivan 28/03/08   41.   I hate to admit it, but Lieberman is (at least partly) correct... 15:52  |  Swiss (Dino) 28/03/08   42.   The Rt. Hon. Mr Lieberman - Think Again! 16:03  |  Bader S Abu-Ghosh 28/03/08   43.   26# Zeki You go to any Arab Country and try to 16:33  |  Akram Zekaria 28/03/08   44.   How can they be forced to be loyal to another religion? 16:34  |  Fritz 28/03/08   45.   democracy by the chosen, for the chosen, on stolen land 16:36  |  not chosen 28/03/08   46.   Thanks Lieberman! 16:37  |  Sharif Hafez 28/03/08   47.   #31 The Swiss Dinosaur`s naivety strikes back 16:51  |  Hastaroth 28/03/08   48.   Hey Jennifer #25 16:59  |  Tzfonit 28/03/08   49.   #31 more ordure from the swiss banker 17:09  |  v hardman 28/03/08   50.   #5 & 32: "Right Honourable" or "Comrad"? 17:21  |  Scientist 28/03/08   51.   I agree 100% with Liebermans editorial 17:57  |  Haldrik 28/03/08   52.   mean minded suggestion, first step to a police state 18:21  |  The Northern Wind 28/03/08   53.   Lieberman seems to forget that the Arabs........... 18:26  |  Deborah 28/03/08   54.   # 49 v hardman 18:31  |  Swiss (Dino) 28/03/08   55.   #24. Margie that is exactly what Jews have done.... 18:31  |  Deborah 28/03/08   56.   All Arab Countries are Islamic States. 18:40  |  Akram Zekaria 28/03/08   57.   Gaza proves State of Palestine isnt possible at this time 19:07  |  Joe 28/03/08   58.   Anyone who burns an Israeli flag should be arrested... 19:22  |  Jordan 28/03/08   59.   The Jews 19:22  |  American Christian 28/03/08   60.   #58 Jordan in Canada 19:41  |  Chris Linthwaite 28/03/08   61.   RE: Democracy? Israel? After a fashion, maybe 19:59  |  David Lerner 28/03/08   62.   Deborah Jews pray for the welfare of the state they live in 20:17  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 28/03/08   63.   To #1 Natallie Durson 20:27  |  Neutral 28/03/08   64.   Yes American Christian #59 20:44  |  maimon 28/03/08   65.   loyalty to the flag 20:50  |  hollingsworth 28/03/08   66.   The Jews suffered a terrible thing in the 1940`s 21:09  |  hollingsworth 28/03/08   67.   Lieberman is right on target 21:15  |  Brod 28/03/08   68.   # 37 Sarah and add 21:15  |  Realistic Arab 28/03/08   69.   Stolen is bad, not chosen? 21:39  |  Teddy 28/03/08   70.   # 47 Hastaroth (2nd try) 21:54  |  Swiss (Dino) 28/03/08   71.   #2 Attaturk is a GREAT MAN 23:02  |  CM 28/03/08   72.   #2 Attaturk is a GREAT MAN 23:02  |  CM 28/03/08   73.   Liberman is 100% right 23:06  |  CM 28/03/08   74.   The Lieberman haters have it backwards 23:13  |  Realist 28/03/08   75.   You want loyalty - then get a dog 23:13  |  Jason 28/03/08   76.   MK Lieberman is absolutely correct 23:18  |  Vladimir 28/03/08   77.   Alternatives? Uh, Swiss... 23:20  |  Realist 28/03/08   78.   Shabal`s dog 23:41  |  Ivan 28/03/08   79.   About Spain 23:44  |  Ivan 28/03/08   80.   Margie in Tel Aviv and paying 01:52  |  Truth 29/03/08   81.   #14 Shalom Freedman shows his double standards towards Arabs 02:32  |  Dutch 29/03/08   82.   14 Shalom Freedman shows his doeuble stadards towards Arabs 02:33  |  Dutch 29/03/08   83.   MLK: An Insult to Some Great Initials 03:12  |  Tex 29/03/08   84.   What a Load of.... 03:13  |  Nathan 29/03/08   85.   Haaretz Loves Idiots 03:15  |  Tex 29/03/08   86.   Deborah: Read A Book 03:18  |  Tex 29/03/08   87.   Hollingsworth: Can`t Speak As A Muslim 03:21  |  Tex 29/03/08   88.   Respect, up and down 03:36  |  Mark Lincoln 29/03/08   89.   I am very concerned 03:38  |  Mark Lincoln 29/03/08   90.   # 77 Realist (really ??) :) 03:39  |  Swiss (Dino) 29/03/08   91.   yes, tex, in spades 05:46  |  hollingsworth 29/03/08   92.   Nathan 06:16  |  Notorious ABG 29/03/08   93.   What a racist pig 06:17  |  POP 29/03/08   94.   #34 Victor 06:43  |  Denise 29/03/08   95.   If this means "Chosen" 06:47  |  Denise 29/03/08   96.   #62 Margie you never do give an honest..... 08:13  |  Deborah 29/03/08   97.   #86 Tex, thanks for a good laugh. 08:25  |  Deborah 29/03/08   98.   I suggest Israelis to be loyal to their previous homeland 09:46  |  Roxana from IRAN 29/03/08   99.   Israel must accept the right of the Arab minority 11:21  |  Lobo08 29/03/08   100.   #97 Deborah 11:41  |  les 29/03/08   101.   #86 Tex 11:49  |  Boycott 29/03/08   102.   TO: Denise, Deborah, Roxana ,95, 96, 98 12:58  |  Altalena 29/03/08   103.   Mark Lincoln 15:28  |  Angelique 29/03/08   104.   Deborah 15:32  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 29/03/08   105.   arabs should be teach holocaust 15:45  |  paulo2005 29/03/08   106.   To Denise 17:15  |  Maria 29/03/08   107.   #100 Les or is that Tex 18:21  |  Deborah 29/03/08   108.   #104 Oh dear Margie. 18:24  |  Deborah 29/03/08   109.   So Deborah 19:07  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 29/03/08   110.   To Tex (#85, 86, 87, Etc.) 19:34  |  Bader S Abu-Ghosh 29/03/08   111.   To Tex (#85, 86, 87, Etc.) 19:35  |  Bader S Abu-Ghosh 29/03/08   112.   "From time"... 20:19  |  Other source 29/03/08   113.   To 107 Deborah, 110 Bader. Times immemorial 21:23  |  Altalena 29/03/08   114.   We Demand Obedience! 21:25  |  Greg Bacon 29/03/08   115.   Durson doesn`t object to The Islamic state of.this or that 21:36  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 29/03/08   116.   Greg Bacon 21:48  |  x-ray 29/03/08   117.   To Altaena (#113) [1] 22:36  |  Bader S Abu-Ghosh 29/03/08   118.   To Altaena (#113) [2] 22:52  |  Bader S Abu-Ghosh 29/03/08   119.   altalena 113 23:44  |  potobac 29/03/08   120.   To 117 Potobac. Grand father 00:20  |  Altalena 30/03/08   121.   1 00:35  |  zionist forever 30/03/08   122.   13 00:49  |  zionist forever 30/03/08   123.   68 01:05  |  zionist forever 30/03/08   124.   #108 Deborah 01:21  |  les 30/03/08   125.   Lieberman, unfortunately, is correct 01:21  |  Nathaniel 30/03/08   126.   Deborah Dear 01:48  |  GABE1 30/03/08   127.   margie in TA 115 03:22  |  potobac 30/03/08   128.   #107 Deborah from U.K Well madam I read The Book From , 03:35  |  I 30/03/08   129.   altalena 118 03:44  |  potobac 30/03/08   130.   Abusing democracy 05:14  |  Marc Frija 30/03/08   131.   Political Correctness is not always wise. 06:59  |  Fortuna Benmayor 30/03/08   132.   #127 So you want to go back to 1947 too? 07:11  |  MaryRose 30/03/08   133.   hollingsworth 08:00  |  Rab Burns 30/03/08   134.   holingsworth 08:04  |  Rab Burns 30/03/08   135.   Loyalty is like respect --it must be earned 08:19  |  Dutch 30/03/08   136.   Fritz #44 08:21  |  jens 30/03/08   137.   post 134 was in reply to post 66 08:56  |  Rab Burns 30/03/08   138.   Liberman not loyal to humen rights and democracy 10:45  |  Yossi 30/03/08   139.   #131 Fortuna Benmayor...Did I Miss Something?? 15:57  |  KATHY 30/03/08   140.   #60 Chris Linthwaite..Yes Let`s Get this Straight(Second Attempt) 16:26  |  KATHY 30/03/08   141.   Deborah`s View of Accuracy 22:31  |  Tex 30/03/08   142.   Bader 22:34  |  Tex 30/03/08

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