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The world is a dangerous place to live; not because of the people who are evil,    but because of the people who don't do anything about it

Occupation magazine - Related Issues Home page  back Print  Send To friend `A mark of Cain on the forehead of the Knesset` From: Rabbi Arik Ascherman ravarik@rhr.israel.net 43 For, 40 Against. Most of the Arabs tore the law up from the speaker’s platform. All expressed anger. Some pleaded not to push the Arab population to the wall. Jews from Meretz and the Labor party spoke of the anti-democratic nature of the legislation and said that the only way forward was to sit down with our fellow citizens as equals and come to agreement. They asked that the land issue be put aside and that the issue of development and infrastructure be put first. Micky Rosenthal and others practically repeated the words of Theodore Bikel, “How can we repeat what was done to us.” Ruby Rivlin and Meir Shetreet spoke for passing the law and then continuing the negotiations. But they and Meir Cohen made it clear that the Bedouin would have to change their way of life. They paternalistically maintained that this was for the good of the Bedouin and glossed over the fact that as MK Freij put it, we were saying “We will give you water if you give us your lands.” The right wing spoke lies about criminal squatters and Orit Struck said bluntly, “It is our land. They don’t have rights.” I don’t know whether we will be tried in a court above or below, but if this isn’t stopped, we will be tried according to our own words, and found guilty. Arik Rabbi Arik Ascherman External Relations and Special Projects Rabbis for Human Rights Phone: 972 2 6482757, 972 2 6480893 Cellphone: 972 2 50 5607034 Fax: 972 2 6783611 Skype: ravarik `We have no respect for this law,` Tibi called. `You’ve gone too far. This law is a mark of Cain on the forehead of the Knesset, and the shame is on the forehead of every one of you who supports this bill. What would you do if there was a plan to drive you out of your homes? Any reasonable person cries out, protests, expresses outrage, he is angry. He responds to the aggression.” MK Mohammad Barakeh (Hadash) claimed that the law in question is a stain in the history of Israel. `All the pretty words are not worth a penny. This is transferring of 40 thousand people. They are going to be uprooted from their homes and their communities destroyed without them being told where they are taken. You call this regulation? This is displacement. This is racism. The Knesset is turning into a racist legislative machine, day after day, year after year. This law belongs in the garbage.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLeWQ470G6o Theodore Bikel on Youtube http://rhr.org.il/eng/2013/06/press-release-majority-within-jewish-israelis- thinks-bedouin-claims-just-oppose-praver/ Press release: A Majority within Jewish Israelis-thinks Bedouin claims are just http://www.jpost.com/National-News/Draft-law-passed-to-regulate-Beduin- settlement-312278 [NB broken link: glue parts together!] Jerusalem Post: Draft law passed to regulate Beduin settlement http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/bedouin-relocation-plan-wins-slim-knesset- majority-after-stormy-1st-reading.premium-1.531794 [NB broken link: glue parts together!] Haaretz: Bedouin relocation plan wins slim Knesset majority after stormy 1st reading http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/169273#.Ucl5aDswde8 Extreme right opposes the law because “It gives the Bedouins too much” ak Links to the latest articles in this section Adam Keller in Berlin, Sept 5-8 Activists protest Tel Aviv arms exhibition: `Arms trade is death trade` In Memeoriam Beate Keller Zilversmidt, 1942-2021