Politics as usual. That’s what I should think. It happens all the time. People who hold important positions in the government of Israel act out of self-interest, for cheap political ends, as opposed to representing the people.
Attorney General Menachem Mazuz has long been a particularly disgusting individual of this sort. This past week he made an official request to bar Baruch Marzel from chairing the ballot committee in Um El-Fahem for “security concerns.” Mazuz is concerned that Marzel will offend the residents of Um El-Fahem to the level that the state is concerned for his safety. In this case, the police is responsible to prevent criminal activity. The police is required to stop anyone who want to harm Marzel. Mazuz is not supposed to instruct the state’s institutions to cave in the face of criminal threats.
If, as Mazuz claims, “Marzel’s very presence in the Arab village would be enough to set off a riot” then the legal issue is with said “Arab village” and not with Marzel, whose service as committee chairman is perfectly legal.
In spite of Mazuz’s attempt to evade responsibility, Eliezer Rivlin, who heads the Central Elections Committee turned down the Attorney General’s request. Rivlin is right on the money when he said “it was the authorities’ job to keep the peace regardless of those present at the ballot boxes,” and that if there is “evidence of a brewing riot the State should take the necessary measures to prevent it.”
The city of Um El-Fahem has announced that it will deliberately act the laws of Israel, “block all the entrances to the town and the police will bear the full responsibility for what goes on that day.” What is it that will happen that day? And why will it happen? “We shall urge all city residents to hit the streets and not allow him to enter.” A premeditated riot. So Mazuz has decided to attempt to capitulate, not deal with rioters.
Threats should be met with force, not with attempts to curtail Jewish freedom of movement in the Jewish state.
Would the same logic apply if we were talking about a Palestinian who called for the ethnic cleansing of Jews from Israel?
Absolutely. If freedom of expression is an ideal which Israel claims to uphold, then that freedom needs to be protected everywhere and for everyone. The real test of such freedoms is when the exercise of said freedoms makes people uncomfortable, and when it presents challenges to the authorities.
And gay people marching through Mea Sharim?
Marching? I’m not in favor of shutting down the roads for demonstrations/protests/marches in general. However, if a group of people wanted to congregate on a street corner in the middle of Me’ah She’arim, waving rainbow flags and signs about gay rights – it is the responsibility of the state to ensure their safety – not take the easy way out by limiting their rights and forbidding them from doing so.
B”H
I think you’re technically correct.
And, of course, Israel is a deMOCKracy.
Personally, I am against democracy for a Jewish state. A Jewish goverment is comprised of a king and Sanhedrin and rabbinical courts {real ones, not puppets}.
But better a democracy absent of hypocrisy that one with hypocrisy.