Islamo facists and fifth columnists protected from being called Nazi in Israel - will ' National Socialist' suffice?: Free speech rights for left upheld for slander and libel of 'right wing'

This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/499

Islamo facists and fifth columnists protected from being called Nazi in Israel - will ' National Socialist' suffice?

Free speech rights for left upheld for slander and libel of 'right wing'
March 16, 2005

http://www.jtf.org/israel/israel.arab.moderates.part.two.htm MIM: Would Sadat have been banned from the Knesset under the new Nazi law ? Will National Socialist become the 'politically correct' legal term for Nazi? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Call Somebody a Nazi? Go to Jail---for 7 Years Wednesday, March 16, 2005

Under new bills proposed by Labor MK's, calling somebody a "Nazi" might land you in the clink. And once you're in jail, watching a certain movie by Mel Brooks won't get you off for good behavior.

Know someone who recently insulted somebody by calling him a Nazi? According to the bill proposed by MK Colette Avital (Labor), such a person, or anybody using Nazi terminology or symbolism lightly would face a prison term of up to seven years behind bars.

The Knesset is considering two legislative proposals submitted by Labor party MK's that would impose stiff penalties on anyone using Nazi terms, symbols, or imagery in every-day discourse.

The bills outlaw the term "Nazi" or other words carrying a similar connotation. The bills also outlaw symbols of the Holocaust, such as concentration camp style prison garments, yellow Stars of David, and swastikas.

Despite the stiff penalty, Avital's bill passed a Knesset committee by a vote of 14-3.

Many MK's such as Aryeh Eldad of the National Union party, who strongly opposes the legislation, claim that it places unreasonable limitations on freedom of speech.

Eldad claims that the bill will "silence" legitimate freedom of expression such as when opponents of the disengagement distributed orange Stars of David to symbolize the intensity of their disapproval of the government's plant to destroy 21 Jewish towns and villages and expel the residents from their homes in Gaza and Northern Samaria.

And what about Israel's most eloquent statesman Abba Eban? MK Eldad asks whether his famous comment about making sure Israel doesn't return to "Auschwitz borders" would have landed him a term cutting potatoes for the Prison Services.

MK Avital said that freedom of expression should "have its limits," pointing out that Israel has backed similar legislation in other countries.

MK Yuli Tamir, who drafted one of the bills, said that "public discourse must be free of Nazi terminology."

If the bill passes, make sure you close you shutters and lock your doors before watching a DVD of Mel Brooks' "The Producers" or listen to Seinfeld crack a joke about Nazi soup.

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1110943126977

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Knesset members and the rest of the Israeli public may soon be breaking the law by using the word "Nazi" as an insult in public discourse and may face a prison term for doing so, according to two bills advanced by the Knesset on Wednesday that would outlaw the use of Nazi words and symbols.

According to the legislation approved in preliminary reading, symbols of the Holocaust include Nazi-style prison garments, yellow Stars of David of the type distributed by the Nazis, swastikas and the word "Nazi" or words with a similar meaning or intention.

The legislation was initiated by a group of Labor MKs, and in a surprising development right-wing MKs argued against the proposal on grounds that it would impinge on the freedom of speech.

It would limit the use of Nazi words and symbols to studies, historical research or reports on Nazism. Nazi symbols may also not be used in a manner that is not fitting to the memory of victims of the Holocaust, according to the bills.

MK Aryeh Eldad (National Union), who voted against the bills, said they were a grave affront to freedom of expression and in effect an attempt to "silence" opinions. Such a law would prevent the broadcast of Seinfield's Nazi joke about soup, Eldad said, or the wearing of a yellow or orange Star of David.

"What about Abba Eban's remark about the Auschwitz borders?" Eldad asked. "Would he have been punished?"

The bill submitted by MK Colette Avital (Labor) would impose a maximum seven-year prison sentence for breaking the law. The government opposes the stiff sentence, and Avital said she would be willing to reduce it. Avital's bill was approved in a 14-3 vote.

"Even freedom of expression should have limits," said Avital, noting that there have been many instances of the use of such expressions in the Knesset. As Israel expects other countries not to tolerate such expressions, they should not be tolerated within Israel either, Avital said.

The second bill, drafted by MK Yuli Tamir (Labor), would impose a fine. "Public discourse must be free of Nazi terminology," she said.

MK Yossi Paritzky and Nissim Ze'ev also voted against the Avital bill. MKs who supported the bill included those from Labor, Yahad, and Arab MKs Mohammed Barakei and Wasal Taha. Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom was the only Likud MK who voted in favor.

Knesset Speaker Ruby Rivlin (Likud) and Roni Bar-On (Likud) abstained.

Avital said it was fitting for the Knesset to approve the bill the same week of the dedication of the new Holocaust museum.

The bill was in the past discussed in the 11th Knesset (elected 1984), and eventually rejected by the Knesset Law Committee, which decided that the topic was best dealt with by education.

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MIM: Court affirms freedom of speech for extreme leftist groups who criticise new IDF general who stated that 'he slept well' after bombing raids which had killed terrorists. The group who call themeselves 'there is a limit' (to self defence) wants the oxymoronic concept of 'ethical warfare' (capitulation and surrender) to become the MO of the IDF.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=78593

Court Affirms Freedom of Speech

Thursday, March 17, 2005

The Tel Aviv District Court handed down a significant ruling today regarding freedom of speech in Israel, allowing a poster against the incoming IDF Chief of Staff to be disseminated.

The court ruled that a left-wing group may post derogatory posters – some call them inflammatory – against incoming IDF Chief of Staff Gen. Dan Halutz.

The extreme left-wing organization "Yesh Gvul" (There's a Limit) appealed to the court against a decision by Ramat Gan Mayor Tzvi Bar not to allow public display of the posters. The poster depicts the future IDF Chief with a large red X smacked across his face, and the caption states, "Fly Halutz Home, Restore Ethical Warfare to the IDF."

"Yesh Gvul" and other left-wing groups object to Halutz's appointment because he once commented, as head of the Israel Air Force, that he slept well at night after bombing raids on Arab terrorists in Gaza in which civilians were killed.

Judge Avraham Tal ruled today that the poster's depiction of Halutz is within the group's right to freedom of expression and does not violate public sensitivity. Neither does the poster convey a message that the group is in favor of killing Halutz, the judge stated.

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http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=78722

Threats, Obscenity and Discrimination Dominate Left-Wing Rally

Sunday, March 29. 2005

"Those who invite a civil war should know that we're ready for battle," Peace Now leader Yariv Oppenheimer told a left-wing crowd last night - and was greeted by raucous cheers from the crowd.

The left-wing rally in Tel Aviv last night, with a smaller-than-expected group of pro-expulsion protesters, was billed as a "peace" rally, but some of the statements were rather militant. Chants and signs reading, "A settler is not my brother," were prominent. Left-wing leader Yossi Sarid has responded to those who warn of a civil war - literally, a "war of brothers" in Hebrew - that, "settlers are not my brothers."

Some of the banners calling to "evacuate" Gaza were particularly crass.

Not all left-wing organizers agreed with the rally's militant message. Maj.-Gen. (res.) Ami Ayalon harshly criticized the slogan, "A settler is not my brother." He said it is unacceptable to attack the residents of Judea, Samaria and Gaza, and that they should rather be shown empathy when they face forcible removal from their homes.

Yossi Verter reported in Haaretz prior to the rally that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's strategic advisors took part in formulating the messages to be delivered at the demonstration. One such placard read, "Sharon, the nation is with you - continue."

Interior Minister Ophir Pines-Paz addressed supporters of a national referendum, saying he would not allow them to "torpedo" the withdrawal from Gaza and the northern Shomron. "We don't need a referendum," Pines-Paz said, "because the majority supports a withdrawal from Gaza."

The numbers belied his claim. Though his audience was only about 10,000 or fewer, according to police estimates, recent anti-withdrawal rallies have drawn from 100,000 to 200,000 protesters from across the country.

Among those in attendance last night were some young people visiting Israel from abroad. These included a busload of Australian youngsters in Israel with the left-wing Habonim Dror youth movement.

Not all attendees at last night's rally were welcomed, however. A group of young people were hustled away from the demonstration "for their own safety" by police. Several young kippah (skullcap) wearing activists, demonstrating for the release of Jonathan Pollard, were told by the police that they must leave the premises - though the bare-headed activists among them were permitted to remain.

The activists say police told them that their kippot identified them with the "right wing," and as a result they should leave the area of the demonstration so as not to be harmed.

This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/499