Arab Israelis can freely participate in the political life

Arab Israelis can freely participate in the political life.

Response #1
-Israel defines itself as a "Jewish state". It prevents equality-seeking politician and parties from participating in the elections. There are several occasions where parties and individuals were banned because they called for a democratic and secular state, a state for all of its citizens.

Not only that, but it also raised the threshold of ... to 3.25 in the the xth session of year ..., which was tailored to eliminate the Arab parties, who won.... by ... in elections of ...

-Israel's laws prevents equality-seeking politicians and parties from participating in the elections. These laws were enforced in several occasions with parties who challenged the Jewish essence of Israel and hoped it become a secular and democratic state for all its citizens.

Laws
-INSERT  Israeli laws and court rulings that prohibit parties from challenging the Jewish essence of Israel
 * Basic Law: The Knesset, 7A
 * "A candidates list shall not participate in elections to the Knesset, and a person shall not be a candidate for election to the Knesset, if the goals or actions of the list or the actions of the person, expressly or by implication, include one of the following:


 * (1) negation of the existence of the State of Israel as a  Jewish  and democratic state."


 * 'Israel High Court decision, 1989
 * "A candidates' list shall not participate in elections to the Knesset if among its goals or deeds, either expressly or implicitly, are one of the following: (1) The negation of the existence of the State of Israel as the State of the Jewish People .."


 * "The 1989 Israel High Court decision that any political party advocating full equality between Arab and Jew can be barred from fielding candidates in an election...[means] that the Israeli state is the state of the Jews...not their [the Arabs'] state." Professor Norman Finkelstein


 * Parties Law ( 1992)


 * "A party will not be registered if in one of its objectives or actions, explicitly or suggested, is one of the following:


 * -The rejection of Israel's right to exist as a  Jewish  and democratic state"


 * Knesset - Summary of Laws Associated with Elections   -mirror


 * insert "Zoabi Law":


 * In February 2013, MK  Danny Danon initiated a bill dubbed the "Zoabi Law", as an amendment to the Basic Law dealing with legislation. Specifically aimed at Zoabi, the new law would make it harder for the Supreme Court to overturn a decision by the Central Elections Committee.



Occurances

 * -  INSERT: instances of Arab parties/politicans getting banned


 * The Arab party "Balad" has been banned a few times for criticizing Israeli policies and daring to say that Israel should become a Secular Democratic state for all its citizens. It was banned in 2003 for not supporting Zionism (state racism). The ban was overturned, but they were banned again in 2009 for not accepting Israel as a Jewish state. It would be the equivalent of a party in the US being banned if they said they were opposed to American becoming a Christian state, or a White state - it's unacceptable in the modern era. Opposing racism and favoritism is not a crime - banning parties who support equality is the real crime. Here are the sources:


 * http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3654866,00.html


 * http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2641227.stm

Response #2
New Israeli law kills minority representation

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/03/israel-new-law-kills-minority-representation-2014311165373497.html

Arab citizens make up about a fifth of Israel's eight-million population and they are represented by three Arab parties.

The Arab-led parties Ra'am-Ta'al, Balad, and Hadash, won 11 seats in the 2013 ballot.

However, the new law would mean the Arab nationalist party Balad, which has three MPs, would not have made it into the current Knesset.

Nor would the centre-right Kadima party of Israel's late Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, which currently has two seats.

Response #3
INSERT:

- List of non-Arab activists and figures  who wants Israel to be secular state and criticize the current discrimination laws. To make the point that this demand (for Israel to be secular) is not limited to just Arabs.

- Explain that people used to be equal before the law (Christians, Jews and Muslims) in Palestine before Israel's came to existence.

What do people think ?

 * Professor Norman Finkelstein:


 * "The 1989 Israel High Court decision that any political party advocating full equality between Arab and Jew can be barred from fielding candidates in an election...[means] that the Israeli state is the state of the Jews...not their [the Arabs'] state."  -  Image and Reality of the Israel-Palestine Conflict.

Ask Yourself

 * If the constitution of US identified it as a white or a Christian state and prevented those who oppose that notion from running for elections,


 * - Would US be considered a democracy?


 * - Would you say that non-white or non-Christians in US enjoy full political rights?