How Pitiful Can Israel Get??

[Hollybaere]

• Tweet

Thursday, 25 February 2010 13:47   .

Knesset criminalises the commemoration of the "Nakba"


A new law in Israel makes it a crime to commemorate what Palestinians call the "Nakba", the "catastrophe" of their dispossession by the creation of the Zionist state in 1948. The Knesset, Israel's parliament, has passed "The Nakba Draft Law" after just one reading. Penalties will be imposed on anyone showing signs of sadness and mourning within the (undefined) borders of Israel on 15 May; Palestinians remember on that day the creation of the refugee crisis that remains after 62 years.

Hebrew radio reported this week that the law is intended to stop people mourning on what is Israeli Independence Day; commemorative acts are, it is claimed, tantamount to "denying the Jewish character of Israel [and] insulting the symbols of the state". The radio noted that the fines might amount up to three times the expenditure of commemorative programmes.

According to one commentator, it is ironic that this law has been passed at a time when Israel is complaining about attempts to "de-legitimise" the Zionist state. Here is an example of Israel's own "de-legitimisation" of the Palestinians, their land and their culture, he said.
http://www.middleeastmonitor.org.uk/news/middle-east/716-knesset-criminalises-the-commemoration-of-the-qnakbaq

[lucy]

How can a person's feelings be criminalized?

[johnhp]

Several things.  The law has not been passed; it has been approved by a committee and is up for ratification.  It is up for consideration, as it has been several times before (when it previously failed).

The law as it has been approved for consideration by the Knesset does not have criminal penalties.  It would, if approved, impose monetary fines on the organizers of events.

You should get the story correct before posting it.


With regard to that, of course this would be an immoral law and should be opposed at the legal level and at the level of public demonstration and at the level of resistance by commemorating Nakba.

[johnhp]

How can a person's feelings be criminalized?

It is not about feelings.  This proposed law concerns public Nakba commemorations.  It would be like making 9-11 ceremonies punishable by fines.

[Velleity]

You should get the story correct before posting it.

Right. Like that's ever going to happen.  

[johnhp]

i do not expect it to happen.  But i do think i did demonstrate the difference between responsible and paranoid criticism.

[Velleity]

i do not expect it to happen.  But i do think i did demonstrate the difference between responsible and paranoid criticism.

Of course you're absolutely correct and I applaud your patience. At one time I was as patient with Holly as you are but after awhile I tired of following up on her blatently anti-Semitic sources and pointing out her half truths and irresponsible assertions. Reason is lost on that one and the stupid is strong in her too.

As you can see the miskite tries to assert that my weariness of the futility of engaging her represents proof that I am somehow misinformed or willfully ignorant.

  <---- to the miskite and not you, of course.

[johnhp]

It really is not patience.  My goal is to distinguish responsible criticism from irresponsible criticism with regard to Israel.  It is largely self-interest because i do not want to be lumped in with people like Holly when i am critical of Israel.

[Velleity]

It really is not patience.  My goal is to distinguish responsible criticism from irresponsible criticism with regard to Israel.  It is largely self-interest because i do not want to be lumped in with people like Holly when i am critical of Israel.

I don't see how you could be lumped with people like Holly, Truelies or Ivan. Your point of view is very close, if not identical, to mine. How is that anti-Semitic?

[ivanm]

i do not expect it to happen.  But i do think i did demonstrate the difference between responsible and paranoid criticism.

Coming from you it is usually paranoid.   I think that lucy's comment about feelings is appropriate.  Maybe there is a better word than "feelings" but the proposed law apparently seeks to punish people for a show of sentiment.  To me that would be like New Yorkers being punished for commemorating the 911 tragedy.  

Lucy, such things probably won't fly in a country like America but in Isreal it seems there is not much of a democratic environment, at least not for the Pals living in Israel.  What would Jewish Americans feel like if the rest of us treated them like aliens?

[johnhp]

I don't see how you could be lumped with people like Holly, Truelies or Ivan. Your point of view is very close, if not identical, to mine. How is that anti-Semitic?

A lot of Americans paint opposing Israeli policies with being anti-Semitic. 

[johnhp]

Coming from you it is usually paranoid.

It is usually you holly and lucy who spout conspiracies.

I think that lucy's comment about feelings is appropriate.  Maybe there is a better word than "feelings" but the proposed law apparently seeks to punish people for a show of sentiment.  To me that would be like New Yorkers being punished for commemorating the 911 tragedy.  

The proposed law is not about regulating feelings; it is about regulating public behavior.  The law fines the people who organize those public demonstrations.  Do you read this stuff before you post?

Lucy, such things probably won't fly in a country like America but in Isreal it seems there is not much of a democratic environment, at least not for the Pals living in Israel.  What would Jewish Americans feel like if the rest of us treated them like aliens?

You mean like referring to them as I am an antisemites?  And i am sure the Palestinians would love your favorite moniker for Arabs "rag heads".

[Velleity]

The one million Israeli citizens who are "Palestinian" are full citizens.

[lucy]

Can those 1 million Israeli "Arab/Palestinian" citizens express emotions such as "sadness" about the Nakba?

[Velleity]

Can those 1 million Israeli "Arab/Palestinian" citizens express emotions such as "sadness" about the Nakba?

You don't hear that much about them, do you?