Endangering democracy
Tuesday's Knesset decision to revoke three key parliamentary privileges from Balad MK Hanin Zuabi is cause for concern.
Haaretz EditorialTuesday's Knesset decision to revoke three key parliamentary privileges from Balad MK Hanin Zuabi is cause for concern. Though the move was adopted in the plenum, there were few participants present, and the extremists - led by MK Michael Ben Ari of National Union - managed to push it through unimpeded.
It seems elected officials no longer understand the meaning of freedom of expression. If they believe Zuabi broke the law, the Knesset's legal adviser is supposed to handle the matter. If this is not the case, even if her opinions are considered offensive, her colleagues must resolutely support her right to have them heard.
It is difficult to ignore that Zuabi, like other Arab MKs, is enthusiastically participating in acts of extreme provocation. It could even be assumed that she profits to some degree from being marked as an enemy of the people, but this is destructive to the Arab population in particular, and to Israeli society on the whole. It certainly does not justify revoking substantive privileges to which Zuabi's position entitles her.
But in an atmosphere of overheated rhetoric directed at Arab MKs, the decision is not surprising. Rightist MKs are continuously planning new boycotts and excommunications: The interior minister considered stripping Zuabi of her citizenship because of her participation in the Gaza aid flotilla, and Ben Ari and Carmel Shama (Likud ) proposed prosecuting and stripping the parliamentary immunity of Arab lawmakers who had visited Libya.
This week the government approved the Bishara bill, a problematic measure that makes it possible to revoke the pension rights of an MK defined as a "traitor," even before he or she has been convicted . In addition, the chairman of the Economic Affairs Committee, MK Ofir Akunis (Likud ), declared he will not support bills brought by MK Ahmed Tibi (United Arab List-Ta'al ) on the grounds that Tibi assisted the Libyan aid flotilla. Akunis went further, threatening Tibi: "We'll deal separately with your presence in the Knesset."
It's a shame Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin, who scolded Akunis and sharply criticized the decision against Zuabi, ultimately abstained from the vote, thereby turning his protest into empty words. All of these developments symbolize the moral weakness of the 18th Knesset, the damage it is inflicting on freedom of speech and the danger it poses to democracy in Israel.
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no country in the world disrespect a member of parliament like they have done in Israel, result of pure racism
When will Haaretz realize that there are boundaries for protests. Of course a member of Keneset may register protest . But when that priotest undermines the very security of Israel it becomes treachery. That is a punishable offense.
Although there is freedom of speach in Israel, there is a limit and must be a limit. If the lady does not believe she is an Israeli, then by all means she should be in the Knesset, and if she is there only as a "Troyan Horse" then the Knesset has the duty to kick her out.
Very fine and very true editorial Haaretz. Thank you.
As long as Israel does not have a constitution based on individual human rights it is not a democracy and never was........
If we are to be logical about expecting Israelis to swear allegiance to Israel as a Jewish State it is possible that the ultra Orthodox Jewish population will refuse because they do not recognize the State of Israel. Much of Bnei Brak is darkened during Israel Independence Day as a sign of refusal to recognize the State of Israel. Many years ago I personally saw Ultra Orthodox Jews sitting shiva in a courtyard during the last military parade in Jerusalem as a mark of denial . So where do we want to go with the actions of rightist MK extremists. The worst result of the recent actions of these MKs will boomerang on us all in the long run unless the law courts step in to right matters
MK Hanin Zoabi did not commit any illegal act! That's why the attorney general did not bring any charges against her. The case will probably go the Supreme Court, but this fiasco must stop! There are 120 Knesset members, and issues like this can not, and should not, be decided a small minority where the total number of MKs - on both sides - was only 50! The dictatorship of the majority is at play here, and they can, if they want, pass a flat-earth law! This only shows the importance of having a constitution that protects the minority.
Israel is at war with Hamas. Breaking the military blockade, had it succeeded, would most certainly have aided Hamas. (We can differentiate here from the blockade on civilian items, the existance of which probably helps Hamas. But the purpose of the flotilla was not to convey civilian aid, otherwise it would have gone through Asdod. It was to break the blockade altogether including the military element of it.) If the governement claims that the blockade is legal (as it does), taking up arms or assisting those who do so in order to break it must, perforce, be illegal. So we are not talking about 'expressing an opinion'. We are talking about assisting a group who actually took up arms against Israeli seamen to break a legal blockade.That having been said, if citizenship is to be stripped from people, there needs to be defined offenses(such as treason) for which this is possible, and it needs to be done only after conviction of said offenses.
Your logic justifies all of Hamas' action. If being simply opposed to an entity gives you the right to suspend rights and attack all who indirectly aid that entity (as the flotillas' stated aim was to bring metrials to Gaza, not Hamas) then universality implies you have to give your enemy the same rights, which entails they can also act with illegality and violence. There ARE rules in war, and they must be followed, if only because it is important to prove the immorality of the enemy.
According to maritime law neutral ships who are warned must submit to inspection or they may be forcibly boarded even in international waters. So the Israeli actions were legal (although inept) because the ship was attempting to run the blocade after being warned. The stated purpose of the flotilla may have been to bring aid to Gaza, but the actual purpose was to break the blockade. If the actual purpose was to bring aid to Gaza they could have gone through an Israeli or Egyptian port and had the goods inspecte and transferred to Gaza from there like all the other ships did. The reason they didnt was that their aim was to run the blockade, because once a blockade has been breached it can no longer be legally maintained. All this was known in advance, so Zuabi was directly aiding Hamas, not indirectly aiding it.
To nick: She did not merely voice her opinion. She abetted the process. Israel did what every country would do. An nobody would bink and eye.
Hamas is not an undefined entity to which there is need of more proof to define its morality. Its stated goal is the destruction of Israel. To allow Hamas to operate without limitation, and allow support from those within your state flies in the face of logic itself.
preferably from western style democracies ( which Israel claims to be)
co-sponsored by Senators Joseph I. Lieberman, independent of Connecticut, and Scott Brown, Republican of Massachusetts, which would allow the State Department to revoke the citizenship of people who provide support to terrorist groups or who attack the United States or its allies. Israel and Germany define the IHH as a terrorist organization and there are videos of the passengers on the ship that Zuabi was on attacking Israeli seamen trying to enforce the blockade, not to mention that trying to break the blockade provides support to Hamas.
Those who are not being elected & talk against the lawmakers are the terrorists and 'endangering the very roots of democracy. Time to be watched specially if they are the insiders & the enemies within the country. The Lord Ho Ho of our time !
The Left lost all their rights to cry crocodile tears about "meaning of freedom of expression".
I did reserve duty with Kabana’s brother. All of us were amazed at the amount hate encased in one medium sized racist. However, he told us just this: "You think that I'm crazy, wait until my brother gets here next year. When Kahana was banned I was right there, applauding an unusually intelligent Knesset action.
the Haaretz is not.
Time and again we hear the same rhetorical arguments that Israel is the only democratic country in the Middle-East. By who's comparable standards...European, American, Asian, Africian...or is it simply from Israel's point of view? A case in point, is when the public can not openly decide which MK can represent them...but given their candidate behind back-room deals. Who is representing who?
Haaretz wrote a wonderful and true editorial and your comment was also wonderful. All democracies are flawed and sometimes chaotic but somehow it all works out as long as people respect the law. I put it down to growing pains.
is very different from freedom of deeds. Sailing in the ship with the purpose to confront IDF is a deed, not a speech. IDF had to make an arrest because of actions.
But for how long? Will the interior minister punish Haaretz for criticizing him?
... until verbal dissent of any kind is considered treason in Israel? Naw, couldn't happen in a society as open minded and egalitarian as Israel, right? Dark days ahead ...
The crime of "treason" is well defined, and is on the books in Israel. Expressed goals of the eradication of the legal entity of the state, or actions to work towards such a goal, or give aid and comfort to those who would work towards that goal are clearly "treasonous". The only question is why are those who act in a treasonous manner not charged, and tried.
This is the Knesset we chose, we have nobody to blame but ourselves for Israel turning fascist.
At last and at least, the Knesset represents the people...But do not worry: new developments ahead. The creativity of the Jewish mind will not disappoint us. Democracy and freedom of speech will be soon only historical entries in encyclopedias and people here will be afraid not only to talk but even to think on their own (see proposed bill against boycotts). What a ride downwards! Vertiginous! Undoubtedly extremely dangerous too, but only for decent, ethical people, so who cares? They are so rare this days!
This country is digging its own grave with respect to the basic standards any civilized democracy must adhere to. I will be most happy when the Americans finally realize they must rid themselves of this embarrassing millstone around their neck.