U.S. embassy concerned over possible Kahane memorial in Knesset
Knesset Chairman Rivlin refused to authorize plan to hold ceremony in plenum in memory of Racist rabbi.
By Jonathan Lis Tags: Knesset Israel newsThe U.S. embassy asked Knesset Chairman Reuven Rivlin whether he intends to permit Knesset members to hold a ceremony in the plenum in memory of Rabbi Meir Kahane.
Michael Pearlstein, the embassy's second secretary in Tel Aviv, wrote to Moshe Stern, a Rivlin adviser, to clarify the matter for U.S. special envoy Sen. George Mitchell and his staff.
We "would like to know if the speaker has made a decision and, if so, what it is," Pearlstein wrote to Stern. "This is something Senator Mitchell and his team are following with some concern," Pearlstein wrote.
Israeli media reported that MK Michael Ben Ari (National Union) was planning to hold a plenum session in honor of former MK Kahane, around the Hebrew anniversary of the former Kach leader's assassination.
These reports sparked American concern.
Rivlin refused to authorize Ben Ari's plan when it was initially proposed.
"We are talking about a provocation. The man and his outlawed [extremist] movement cannot be separated. This is an attempt to bring the Kach movement into the Knesset through the back door," said Rivlin.
Ben Ari appealed Rivlin's decision, and gained the support of several Knesset members. In a House Committee meeting Thursday, chairman MK Yariv Levin (Likud) announced he intended to mediate between Rivlin and Ben Ari, to see whether some form of ceremony could be held, despite Rivlin's initial opposition.
Rivlin told Levin he was standing by his refusal, but was willing to accept any House Committee decision.
Rivlin adviser Stern responded in writing to the American Embassy, stating that the Knesset chairman had no intention of allowing any event commemorating Kahane to take place in the Knesset building, but that Rivlin could not prevent parliamentary manipulations by other MKs.
Ben Ari slammed the American inquiry Thursday.
"I was elected by the citizens of the independent state of Israel. Mitchell's gross intervention crosses a red line. Its acceptance amounts to a genuflection by the chairman of the Knesset, which is supposed to be [a] sovereign [entity].
"The weakness broadcast by Rivlin has turned the Knesset into a doormat. It's amazing to see how American government officials are trying to get involved in the daily workings of the Knesset," he said.
Ben Ari had planned to fly to the U.S. on business Thursday, but remained in Israel after the U.S. Embassy refused to issue him a visa.
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The US Embassy was entirely correct in raising the question. Mitchell would want to be thousands of miles distant if such a celebration took place. He would need to entirely disassociate the US and its government from anything to do with it. The US was also correct to deny the visa. Saves the trouble of PNG.
Beyond the fact that I just felt it was a low down cowardly act by some Pre-Al-Qaeda thugs, I really had no interest in the Man. What did he say? "Every Jew A 22?" Exactly what kind of place does that have in Contemporary America? Anti-Semitism is way way down. And the Extremism today is not just being aimed at Non-Jews. Jewish Extremists are harming Jews. What do we want to do? Create more Muslim Moderates or more Muslim Extremists. Look! They just had a big Aerosmith Concert in Abu Dubai. Are those Muslims all meanies? As for the Pals... well Major Hassan just proved they are their own worst enemies. Themselves!
Rabbi Meier Kahae will go down in Jewish History as one of our Great Leaders. A Man who Loved Israel from the depth of his Heart and only wanted to see a Strong Israel who would stand up for its rights, and fight against those who would take Jewish Rights away. His letters to everyone always ended With Love OF Israel.The ZOA GAVE RABBI kAHANE THE MICROPHONE AT ITS CONVENTION IN 1972 IN iSRAEL AND RABBI kAHANE TOLD hOW pROUD hE WAS TO COME TO ISRAEL AS A NEW CITIZEN. tO GO TO AsHDOD AND HEAR LONGSHOREMAN "CURSING" IN hEBREW AND TELLING His SON, HOW PROUD IT WAS AFTER 3,000 plus YEARS TO HEAR HEBREW SPOKEN BY EVERYONE INCLUDING THESE lONGSHOREMAN. Rabbi Kahane was not afraid to speak the truth, as uncomfortable it was to comfortable Jews.Israel was The Land Of The Jews period-end of discussion. How difficult then and who difficult it is now for some Jews who have not woken up and realize rhis dream coming true. Along with Begin, Rabbi Kahane 's name should be Honoured by All.
If anyone takes the time to read Kahane's books they will see that he was a huge peace advocate and a pragmatist. They should erect a statue of Kahane in front of the Knesset as a reminder of a real zionist is.
One Day all of Israel will wake up and realize the Greatness of Rabbi Meier Kahane z'L. Here
in the shape of Lieberman? Any chance at peace though was thrown out the back door and nailed shut with Liebermans nail gun....PEACE EVER?
Jews should start having events to mark Rabbi Meir Kahane's birthday. There is a Jewish demographic change taking place for the positive. A positive Jewish tipping point.