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Last update - 09:05 18/06/2008
A law that must not pass
By Haaretz Editorial
Tags: Israel, knesset, MK 

The Basic Law on the Knesset is meant to be a law that is not touched, changed or suited to the spirit of the moment or the changing desires of Knesset members. It is the Basic Law that ensures the fundamental right to vote and to be elected.

But restraint is not a hallmark of the members of the present House, which is not overflowing with real parliamentarians. It is no surprise that MKs Zevulun Orlev and Esterina Tartman are the ones whose names are on this proposed amendment.

The bill, which is to be presented to the legislature for its second and third readings in the coming days, would amend the Basic Law on the Knesset so that a person who has visited an enemy country would not be able to stand for election to the Knesset. Such a visit would be considered "supporting the armed struggle against the State of Israel." The prohibition would be retroactive for seven years, starting from when the amendment is passed. The law refers to all citizens of Israel, but is intended to prevent Arab citizens from visiting Arab countries. The prohibition is a sweeping one; it does not matter what the purpose of the visit has been.
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It may be assumed that the bill reflects a longing for some of the Arab Knesset members of the old school, the kind who assimilated obediently into the large parties and tried to quietly promote the interests of their sector. But the Arab sector, which has been suffering for years from inequality, has developed another type of MK, who views the Arab world as an audience for its message. They try to promote the interests of Arab Israelis through their diasporas, just as Israeli Jews promote their interests in the Jewish Diaspora. The Arab MKs (not all of them) have entered enemy countries using their essential parliamentary immunity, because they see these trips as part of their job.

Clearly, the proposed change in the law does not add to the security of the country, but only to the public relations efforts of the lawmakers who initiated it. These trips have for some reason become like a red flag to other Knesset members who have never made a special effort at coexistence or breaking down the barriers of hatred between Israel and Arabs.

It is especially disturbing that the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, which should be acting to block harmful, hyperactive legislation, found it proper to vote for the bill. Accordingly, and unfortunately, it will probably pass this week.

Clause 7 of the Basic Law on the Knesset already states that an individual who denies the existence of Israel as a Jewish and a democratic state, incites to racism, or supports the armed struggle of enemy countries or a terror organization against the State of Israel, cannot stand for election to the Knesset. Another unnecessary, insulting and damaging limitation should not be added.

It is doubtful that the visit of a Syrian legislator to Israel would be received here as an act of support for war rather than as a breakthrough to peace. Visits of MKs to countries with which Israel has no diplomatic relations, like visits to the Soviet Union in the 1950s, or by U.S. congressmen to Vietnam during the war between those two countries, are part and parcel of the work of elected public officials.
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  1.   forcing israeli arabs 09:40  |  sara 18/06/08
  2.   Israel`s ennemies as Israel`s MKs? 09:43  |  Hastaroth 18/06/08
  3.   The law 09:49  |  Ralph 18/06/08
  4.   ALL Lebanese not allowed to contact Israel(is) 09:55  |  Paul Henzen 18/06/08
  5.   Arabs in Knesset is a self inflicted wound 10:01  |  Harvey (Chaim) 18/06/08
  6.   #2 hastaroth and democracy 10:04  |  democrat 18/06/08
  7.   Haaretz 11:03  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 18/06/08
  8.   Writer hides his/her name 11:26  |  dan 18/06/08
  9.   how come this law is not 11:43  |  cool 18/06/08
  10.   Yet having a criminal record is socially acceptable 12:06  |  SJ 18/06/08
  11.   Racist laws/hasteroth ! 12:06  |  Sean 18/06/08
  12.   Those foolish hardliners in the Knesset... 12:57  |  Dutch 18/06/08
  13.   If there is no control over this issue.... 13:17  |  The Archives 18/06/08
  14.   Picture the nice little Arab MK`s singing Hatikva 13:27  |  Harvey (Chaim) 18/06/08
  15.   Esterina Tartman still an MK 13:40  |  Chris Linthwaite 18/06/08
  16.   Haven`t lived it down 14:11  |  Motic 18/06/08
  17.   #15 Chris- well technically she did go to University 14:20  |  SJ 18/06/08
  18.   Typical Haaretz thinking (or lack of) 14:36  |  sptz 18/06/08
  19.   #11 Dream it on,Sean 14:44  |  Hastaroth 18/06/08
  20.   #6 to the so-called "democrat" 14:48  |  Hastaroth 18/06/08
  21.   Just one country 14:55  |  Manolo ME expert 18/06/08
  22.   Do other countries allow enemy agents in the legislature? 15:03  |  Realist 18/06/08
  23.   Spanishs can visit USA -once an enemy country 15:06  |  Manolo ME expert 18/06/08
  24.   Good Law! It`s Call Treason in other Nations! 15:14  |  Baruch Gold 18/06/08
  25.   Arab MKS who support Israel`s enemies are Treasonist 15:16  |  Baruch Gold 18/06/08
  26.   David visited an enemy country then stood for election and won 15:19  |  Pete Eriksen 18/06/08
  27.   So much for being a democratic nation built on freedom 15:47  |  POP 18/06/08
  28.   Now lets see 15:55  |  Buzaglow 18/06/08
  29.   baruch wrong 15:57  |  Sean 18/06/08
  30.   "a person who has visited an enemy country"where does it say Arab 15:57  |  PETER SM 18/06/08
  31.   Gold? He`s called 16:00  |  Mark Lincoln 18/06/08
  32.   Don`t worry, Haaretz, the next Meretz government will repeal it 16:01  |  Freethinker 18/06/08
  33.   Cipora J Kohn # 7 it is called dual loyalty; whats good for the g 16:04  |  American in NY 18/06/08
  34.   Democratic countries 16:04  |  daat y 18/06/08
  35.   #16 Seeing as no country in the world gives recogition 16:07  |  Diane Mason 18/06/08
  36.   Hermann Goering said 16:29  |  Herbert Kaine 18/06/08
  37.   AMERICAN in NY Like the long list of YOUR kind who have spied 16:34  |  PETER SM 18/06/08
  38.   DORIS CADIGAN .not hardliners just bitter experience of treason 16:57  |  PETER SM 18/06/08
  39.   The proposed law is a must. 17:09  |  Rafael 18/06/08
  40.   Those who enacted the law 17:26  |  Mark Lincoln 18/06/08
  41.   #39 Proposal must be AUTHORISED 17:29  |  The Archives 18/06/08
  42.   Haaretz`s Editors - They Also Backed Bishara 17:31  |  Tod Zuckerman 18/06/08
  43.   Israel is not a democracy 17:45  |  Concerned individual 18/06/08
  44.   Democracy does not mean suicide 18:05  |  TOMY 18/06/08
  45.   #20 to hastaroth and his version of democracy 18:19  |  democrat 18/06/08
  46.   Sean #11 18:32  |  Gee 18/06/08
  47.   Manolo ME expert #23 18:34  |  Gee 18/06/08
  48.   haha 18:38  |  Ariel 18/06/08
  49.   Contact with the enemy 18:43  |  Robert Haymond 18/06/08
  50.   Sean #11 19:17  |  Free Gilad Shalit 18/06/08
  51.   you are so wrong. one has to question your undertsanding of demo 19:17  |  ralph 18/06/08
  52.   Shouldnt our passports forbid us to 19:24  |  Free Gilad Shalit 18/06/08
  53.   Sounds to me a law that should pass 19:25  |  Free Gilad Shalit 18/06/08
  54.   keep your enemies closer... 19:26  |  Another Canadian 18/06/08
  55.   Democrat, you are wrong 20:03  |  Netanel 18/06/08
  56.   Finally some good news and hope for this country... 20:06  |  Iguana Pacheca 18/06/08
  57.   racist laws 20:30  |  Sean 18/06/08
  58.   The best new Law of the Jewish Israel needs to... 20:43  |  misha 18/06/08
  59.   #55 netanel + 4mil slaves 20:59  |  democrat 18/06/08
  60.   Arab Supremicism 21:01  |  Scharker Yid 18/06/08
  61.   `Person` means `Arab` to editorialist 21:01  |  Iz Ray Leigh 18/06/08
  62.   The Israeli left - more dangerous than hamas 21:13  |  Arie 18/06/08
  63.   Response to # 35 recognition of Jewish state 21:32  |  Motic 18/06/08
  64.   a law that must not pass 21:37  |  goldie klugman 18/06/08
  65.   Amending basic law 22:40  |  Aron 18/06/08
  66.   #33, ANY, topic: visiting enemy states 23:59  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 18/06/08
  67.   #40, Mark Lincoln 00:07  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 19/06/08
  68.   Manolo 23 00:32  |  ChanahS 19/06/08
  69.   Sean #57 02:12  |  Gee 19/06/08
  70.   SEAN The law applies to ALL.There is no seperation wall 02:17  |  PETER SM 19/06/08
  71.   Greece 02:33  |  Ieronimos 19/06/08