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Rare Israeli Justice
Israeli High Court rules for Arab MK Zuabi.
by Stephen Lendman
Instances indeed are rare. An important one deserves mention. In mid-July 2010, Knesset members stripped MK Hanin Zuabi of key parliamentary rights and privileges.
They did so for participating in the May 2010 Freedom Flotilla. She joined others trying to bring vital humanitarian aid to Gaza. Lunatic fringe MK's targeted her. They oppose doing the right thing.
Hardline MKs called her a traitor. She's repeatedly vilified and threatened. On December 18, Israel's Central Election Committee (CEC) disqualified her from seeking reelection.
Israeli Basic Law requires Supreme Court justices rule on whether political candidates may be disqualified. More below on their Zuabi decision.
She's a Balad party member. They fraudulently claimed she violated Israeli Basic Law. It says anyone denying Israel's existence as a Jewish state can't serve in parliament. Nor can others favoring terrorism and armed struggle.
Zuabi serves honorably and legitimately. Charges against her are baseless. At issue is challenging her humanitarian priorities. Nineteen CEC members approved disqualification. Nine voted against. One abstained.
Disqualifying her is lawless. Israel's Supreme Court had final say. It overturned most previous attempts to disqualify candidates. More on how it ruled below.
Deputy speaker Danny Danon said if Zuabi stands for reelection, Knesset members will change Israeli law. He added that she belongs in prison, not parliament.
MK hardliner Michael BenAri said if justices didn't disqualify her she'd "throw a bomb in the Knesset." If they let her run, he'd "send them all to Gaza." They can serve "under (Hamas leader Ismail) Haniyah."He added that "anyone who participated in the Mavi Marmara flotilla is a criminal. To our great regret, this is a court that legitimized (former Balad MK) Azmi Bishara."
In March 2007, he left Israel. He did so because of unjust allegations against him. They were baseless. Charges and indictment never followed.
He was targeted for being Muslim in Israel's Knesset. Racist discrimination is institutionalized. Zuabi was vilified before. She's threatened again now.
