Balad to petition High Court over disqualification

[Scurrilous]

Arab party determined to see High Court overturn elections committee decision to ban it from running in coming elections. 'As a party that represents hundreds of thousands of voters it is our duty to be in the Knesset,' says party MK

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3655422,00.html

<snip>

"A day after the central elections committee decided to disqualify Arab parties Balad and United Arab List-Ta'al from running in the upcoming elections, Balad's political bureau announced it would petition the High Court of Justice to overturn the decision.

"We decided to exhaust all possible measures in order to be able to take part in the elections," said Balad MK Jamal Zahalka on Tuesday. "We think that the notion represented in our platform calling for 'a state of all its citizens' is democratic and should not be outlawed," he added.

While the committee's decision was not surprising, the party's members said that it reflected a trend of rightist radicalization in the political arena. "Avigdor Lieberman is the one who demanded that Balad be disqualified, and it turns out that in Israeli politics he can set the boundaries of right and wrong of political discourse.

"Lieberman succeeded yesterday in leading Israel's centric parties by the nose, and if they continue following him, he'll become the next prime minister," said Zahalka.

Balad MK Said Naffaa told Ynet that the decision to disqualify his party was motivated by political considerations. "It is our duty, as the representatives of hundreds of thousands of voters, to make sure that we are represented at the Knesset."

Six years ago the elections committee disqualified Balad and its leader at the time, Azmi Bishara, from running for the 16th Knesset. The party appealed to the High Court, which overturned the decision."

[LeftishBrit]

1. I hope they win the case.

[Scurrilous]

2. Shameful, irresponsible decision

Uri Misgav says decision to ban two Arab parties misguided, to be reversed by High Court

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3655947,00.html

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"Every few years, we see the establishment of a commission here in Israel to look into the grave state of the Arab community. The learned conclusions of such commissions point to “gaps,” “discrimination” and “alienation.”

The recommendations refer to a policy that would defuse this ticking bomb. Here’s a suggestion on where we can start: Allow Arab Israelis to cast their votes and to be elected to the Knesset.

This is the elementary right reserved to citizens in a democratic state, unless we decide to adopt within the Green Line too the sort of apartheid regime that Avigdor Lieberman and the delusional figures of the National Union party wish to perpetuate in the West Bank.

Israel’s Basic Laws grant us the possibility of preventing parties from running for elections in cases where they constitute a danger to the State and its democratic character. In rare cases it was done in the past, on both ends of the political spectrum. Yet we are talking about an unusual step, which requires solid evidence in order to be utilized.

Such evidence does not exist in Balad’s case, and certainly not in the case of United Arab List-Ta’al. Therefore, the High Court of Justice is expected to soon discard the shameful decision made by the Elections Committee.

Most MKs who are members of this committee are certainly familiar with this reality. Yet through their irresponsible conduct they leave it up to the High Court of Justice to worry about democracy, and to be hit by the criticism later on. Until that time, these Knesset members hope to elicit a few more votes in the name of their “patriotism,” as Labor Party Secretary-General Eitan Cabel characterized it the other day."

[Scurrilous]

3. Mazuz: No grounds to bar Arab parties from Knesset race

AG says Central Elections Committee's decision to disqualify Arab parties from bidding in nearing general elections based on flimsy evidence. Court to rule on appeal by Thursday

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3658985,00.html

<snip>

"Attorney General Menachem Mazuz said Monday that he sees no grounds to prevent the Arab parties Balad and United Arab List-Ta'al from participating in the general elections.

The Central Elections Committee disqualified both parties from bidding in the nearing elections last week, stating that since they do not recognize Israel as the Jewish homeland and advocate an armed conflict against it, they are ineligible to take part in the Knesset race.

Mazuz's brief, filed with the High Court of Justice in response to the parties' appeal of the decision, noted that that the decision to disqualify the Arab parties was based on "flimsy evidence."

The appeal, filed by Adalah, the Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel on behalf of both parties, stated the the Central Elections Committee's decision "was in breach of natural justice", which is a legal philosophy stating that there is an inherent quality in the laws of procedural fairness, meant to ensure the just, or fair, processes in legal proceedings.

The law required the High Court to have a nine-judge panel hear appeals of this nature. The court must render its ruling on the appeal by Thursday."

[ProgressiveMuslim]

4. This will be interesting. nt

[Scurrilous]

5. Lieberman to Arab MK: We'll deal with you like we dealt with Hamas

Heated confrontation breaks out at Supreme Court after Arab parties appeal decision to bar them from running in upcoming Knesset elections. MK El-Sana tells Yisrael Beiteinu chairman, 'You're a new immigrant and inciter.' Lieberman replies, 'You're a terrorist representing terrorists'

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3659122,00.html

<snip>

"A heated confrontation erupted Tuesday morning between an Arab and a right-wing Knesset member before the start of a Supreme Court hearing on an appeal filed by two Arab parties against the decision to bar them from running in the upcoming elections.

MK Talab El-Sana (United Arab List-Ta'al) called out towards Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman, "Get the hell out of here." Lieberman replied, "You're a terrorist representing terrorists. We'll deal with you like with any other terrorist, like we dealt with Hamas."

Lieberman told reporters, "This is discussion for the purpose of setting a policy. This is the first time we examine the border between loyalty and disloyalty. Do we wish to give someone a license to kill the state of Israel as a Jewish and Zionist state?

"The court should not have intervened in this issue from the start. This is a clash between the legislative authority and the judiciary."

MK El-Sana lashed out at him, saying, "You are a new immigrant, you can't even speak Hebrew, and you're constantly inciting. You come here to gain votes at the expense of the Arab public. You are an enemy of the state."

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"At this point MK Ahmad Tibi walked in, and Lieberman said, "Here's another clown, another terrorist."

Tibi called out, "There are fascist immigrants here who want to deprive the Arabs of their right to live and be presented. We were here before you. You immigrated here and want to throw us out of here. You are dancing on the blood of Palestinian children and seeking to terminate the political leadership of Israel's Arabs."