Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., June 11, 2008 Sivan 8, 5768 | | Israel Time: 14:32 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Peres Conference Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

National Religious Party Chairman MK Zevulun Orlev. (Uriah Tadmor / Jini) Last update - 07:32 11/06/2008 Bill banning would-be MKs who visit enemy countries passes first reading By Shahar Ilan, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Knesset, Zevulun Orlev  The Knesset on Tuesday passed the first reading of a bill stating that people who have visited an enemy country cannot be elected to parliament. If the bill, which has extensive backing in the Knesset, becomes law, the senior members of all the Arab parties would be disqualified from being MKs. The widespread support for the bill, which passed by a vote of 63-16, indicates that it has a good chance of becoming law by the end of the summer session - in time to apply to contenders in the next general election. "The bill is intended to stop Trojan horses from infiltrating the Israeli Knesset," said National Religious Party Chairman MK Zevulun Orlev, who proposed the bill along with MK Esterina Tartman (Yisrael Beiteinu). Advertisement Arab MKs objected to the move. "This is a black day for the Knesset and for democracy," said MK Wasal Taha (Balad). "The proposal is directed against the leadership of the Arab public." MK Ahmed Tibi (United Arab List-Ta'al) said the "populist" bill would not withstand scrutiny by the High Court of Justice, since it infringes on the right to be elected to the Knesset. In order to help it withstand a High Court challenge, Orlev and Tartman are making an effort to pass the bill with a majority of more than 61 MKs. Supporters of the bill, which is an amendment to the Basic Law on the Knesset, include a raft of top Kadima officials: Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, Transportation Minister Shaul Mofaz, Interior Minister Meir Sheetrit and Deputy Prime Minister Haim Ramon. The Labor Party voted against the bill. The proposal states that any Knesset candidate who visited an enemy country without the interior minister's permission in the seven years prior to the submission of his party's candidate list will not be allowed to run for Knesset. This is because he will be considered to have expressed support for armed struggle against Israel - unless the candidate can prove that his stay in the enemy country did not entail support for armed struggle. The clause allowing the candidate to prove his innocence was added after the Justice Ministry said the original proposal, which did not have this escape clause, was unconstitutional. The countries referred to by the bill are Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Yemen. Related articles: Arab MKs: Bid to bar trips to enemy states is 'racist' Arab ex-MK Azmi Bishara meets Syrian President in Damascus The vision of an Arab-free Knesset Bookmark to del.icio.us   Marketing ploy Israeli satellite TV has a new star - Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Through her lens Madonna's next project: documentary about the Israeli-Arab conflict.   1.   It applies to ALL MK`s! Will that stop the Arab apology industry 06:13  |  PETER SM 11/06/08   2.   Wow, This new racist law reminds of some of those in Saudi Arabia 06:18  |  POP 11/06/08   3.   Infringes on the right to be elected to the Knesset.?? 07:24  |  Binyamin Dissen 11/06/08   4.   Not at all racist law. It says ANY and ALL PEOPLE WHO 07:29  |  MR 11/06/08   5.   How about banning those with a criminal record 08:08  |  SJ 11/06/08   6.   where is the left now???? 09:03  |  wanting reason 11/06/08   7.   Law against troian hrses 10:57  |  PARIS 11/06/08   8.   But its ok to have a criminal record 11:02  |  sj 11/06/08   9.   It`s just a way of undermining multi-ethnic democracy. 11:04  |  Michael 11/06/08   10.   MICHAEL Its to prevent underminning Israel. 14:25  |  PETER SM 11/06/08

Read & React Palestinians: IDF kills girl, gunman in Gaza; Negev man wounded by mortar Responses: 66 Editorial: No good reason for broad IDF Gaza operation Responses: 33 Haniyeh aide: Hamas expects gesture in exchange for Shalit letter Responses: 46 TV: IDF reservists complain their service consists of babysitting young settlers Responses: 18 Alexander Yakobson: Religious rites not needed to join the Jewish people Responses: 18 Rosner's Domain Lieberman for VP? Only 18% want it (WTR) On a par with the policies of President Bush Threatening Iran is wrong (WTR) Poll: Philip Roth, Victor Frankl or Leon Uris? Obama and Jerusalem: did you really believe him? More Headlines 14:15 Israel: No Gaza raid, we're giving cease-fire talks chance to succeed 14:24 Treasury announces plan for sharp income tax cuts by 2015 13:34 Ahmadinejad: West failing to halt our nuclear victory 14:00 Palestinians: IDF kills girl, gunman in Gaza; Negev man wounded by mortar 12:49 Despite Egypt snub, Syria is returning to the Arab fold 13:48 U.S. kosher meat prices likely to soar after raid on Iowa plant 14:23 Self-defense bill for homeowners passes two readings in Knesset 14:29 Report: Stalker sends sexually explicit letters to woman MKs 12:53 Education Council: We won't recognize degrees awarded by college in West Bank settlement 12:48 Police suspect Taibeh man murdered 22-year-old as part of 'blood feud' 10:18 Olmert facing mounting pressure to set date for Kadima primaries Previous Editions Select Day 10 jun 09 jun 08 jun 06 jun 05 jun 04 jun 03 jun 02 jun 01 jun 30 may 29 may 28 may

Special Offers Advertisement Jerusalem of Gold Luxury apartments in Jerusalem's finest location Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Istudy Learn Hebrew in 3 months The Terraces Your Ultimate Coastal Address On Nitza Boulevard, North Netanya Pardes Institute Summer Sessions http://www.pardes.org.il/ Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel

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