Israel pulls TV ad inviting public to take part in Kahane memorial
Broadcasting Authority responds to Peace Now request; rightists: The extreme left controls the media.
By Chaim Levinson Tags: Israel news Yitzhak RabinThe Israel Broadcasting Authority on Tuesday pulled a televesion ad inviting the public to take part in a memorial service in Jerusalem marking 19 years since extreme rightist Rabbi Meir Kahane's murder.
MK Michael Ben Ari (National Union), a former student of Kahane, narrated the controversial advertisement which was initially broadcast on Tuesday morning, a day before the scheduled memorial.
Peace Now Secretary General Yariv Oppenheimer sent a complaint to the Broadcasting Authority after the ad went on air.
"It is common knowledge that Kahane headed the controversial political party "Kach", known for its extreme racist and anti-democratic ideology including the forceful expulsion of Israeli-Arabs from Israel," said Oppenheimer.
He added that it was because of these extreme beliefs that the Knesset election committee banned Kach from running during the 1988 elections.
"Due to these facts, this advertisement carries a distinct political agenda with contentious political message," he added.
Several other complaints were also sent to the broadcasting authority.
The Kahane family hired attorney Rahamim Cohen after the ad was pulled to fight the authority's decision.
"Their decision is insolent and discriminating," said Cohen, "and we intend to sue the broadcasting authority and to petition to the high court if that's what it takes to get the ad back on air."
National Jewish Front leader Baruch Marzel said in response to the event that "nineteen years have passed since Rabbi Kahane's murder and they are still afraid that he was right."
"It has once again been proven that the extreme left control the media," ha added.
Right-wing activist Itamar Ben Gvir said that the "extreme left are biting off their nose to spite their face."
He added that "if the decision is not reversed within the next few days I will demand that the broadcasting authority also pull an ad inviting people to participate in Rabin's memorial ceremony, as we all know that Rabin was also a controversial figure."
The broadcasting authority said in response that "broadcasting an invitation, narrated by MK Ben Ari, to partake in Rabbi Kahane's memorial ceremony raises the concern that the advertiser intends to raise a public debate regarding Kahane's racist ideas."
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You are to be despised for yor cowardice.
I think it's disgusting they pulled the commercial because Peace now extremist complained but I am also wondering why 19 years and not 20? Kahane was a good man murdered in cold blood by a terrorist. Kahane stood for peace and his name is sullied as was Ariel Sharon's.
Arabs are sitting in Knesset openly calling for dismantlement of Israel , openly visiting and contacting enemies of Israel even during the war . But their adds will appear in the Israeli press . They will enjoy and make mockery of Israeli perverted democracy . A true parody of justice .
What is the point of censoring the ad when Khane Crazed Settlers are allowed to rampage in Judea and Samaria? It looks silly.
He raised fundamental questions that made Israeli left-wingers uneasy because they emphasized the potential inconsistencies between a Jewish state and a democratic state in the sense of a regime letting the majority rule. Meir Kahana had more respect for the Arabs than left-wingers : he understood that the Arabs could never feel at home in a Jewish state, no matter the economic and social benefits they receive. Meir Kahana spoke the truth and the truth hurts those who live in a world of illusions and fantasies.
Kahane left out the part where Arabs and Jews get along and live happily forever after.