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The Israeli Knesset's Anti-Democratic Agenda - by Stephen Lendman
An earlier article discussed the Mossawa Center calling the current Knesset the most racist in history, accessed through the following link:
It reviewed 2008 and 2009 legislation violating Israeli Arab rights, Mossawa saying "almost every day" they're victimized by racist actions, and as a result, they face disruptive social, economic and cultural futures.
The upcoming winter Knesset session promises worse, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel's Debby Gild-Hayo (ACRI) reviewing what's expected in a report titled, "Harming Democracy in the Heart of Democracy." Ahead of the upcoming session, it addressed expected anti-democratic legislation, including:
-- free expression political protest rights;
-- equality before the law;
-- verbal and physical abuse of minority MKs;
-- efforts to delegitimize and infringe on legitimate human rights and social change organizations; and
-- attempts to weaken academic freedom.
In sum, it represents extremist efforts to weaken Israeli democracy, or what passes for its current system, by destroying civil liberties, silencing minority views, and characterizing groups holding them as state enemies. In fact, "We are witnessing a reality of increasing tyranny against social, political, and national minorities, which harms their" rights and everyone's. Perhaps more disturbing is that surveys of the past two years show public support, mainly among Israeli youths.
The Knesset's 2010-11 Winter Session
Begun on October 10, the Knesset will address some previous session's unapproved legislation and expected new ones to be introduced. They include:
(1) The Nakba Bill
As first written, anyone commemorating Nakba Day faced prison. It was then softened to deny observing persons or groups public funds, yet still threatens freely expressed minority views. The bill passed the preliminary reading, and may be addressed by the Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee ahead of its first reading.
(2) The Anti-Incitement Bill
