Israel pulls TV ad inviting public to take part in Kahane memorial

[Scurrilous]

<snip>

"The Israel Broadcasting Authority on Tuesday pulled a television ad inviting the public to take part in a memorial service in Jerusalem marking 19 years since extreme rightist Rabbi Meir Kahane's murder.

MK Michael Ben Ari (National Union), a former student of Kahane, narrated the controversial advertisement which was initially broadcast on Tuesday morning, a day before the scheduled memorial.

Peace Now Secretary General Yariv Oppenheimer sent a complaint to the Broadcasting Authority after the ad went on air.

"It is common knowledge that Kahane headed the controversial political party "Kach", known for its extreme racist and anti-democratic ideology including the forceful expulsion of Israeli-Arabs from Israel," said Oppenheimer."

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[IndianaGreen]

1. They should have let all the bigots come out; after all, we let the nazis march in Skokie

All racists share a common bond.

[Scurrilous]

2. U.S. embassy concerned over possible Kahane memorial in Knesset

<snip>

"The U.S. embassy asked Knesset Chairman Reuven Rivlin whether he intends to permit Knesset members to hold a ceremony in the plenum in memory of Rabbi Meir Kahane.

Michael Pearlstein, the embassy's second secretary in Tel Aviv, wrote to Moshe Stern, a Rivlin adviser, to clarify the matter for U.S. special envoy Sen. George Mitchell and his staff.

We "would like to know if the speaker has made a decision and, if so, what it is," Pearlstein wrote to Stern. "This is something Senator Mitchell and his team are following with some concern," Pearlstein wrote.

Israeli media reported that MK Michael Ben Ari (National Union) was planning to hold a plenum session in honor of former MK Kahane, around the Hebrew anniversary of the former Kach leader's assassination.

These reports sparked American concern.

Rivlin refused to authorize Ben Ari's plan when it was initially proposed.

"We are talking about a provocation. The man and his outlawed movement cannot be separated. This is an attempt to bring the Kach movement into the Knesset through the back door," said Rivlin."

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[LeftishBrit]

3. Ugh. Glad they took it down

Allowing the memorial service as part of free speech is one thing. But having it advertised by an MK on national television just makes me feel uggggghhhh. Somewhat familiar though; we have our own issues with how much rope to give the BNP.