[ 29/03/2011 - 05:03 PM ]
OCCUPIED JERUSALEM, (PIC)-- The Israeli Knesset approved Monday night a citizenship revocation law and another law revoking the privileges of former Arab Knesset member Azmi Bishara, as the fourth set of laws passed this week targeting Arabs.The Knesset passed the law drafted by right-wing Knesset member David Rotem from the Yisrael Beiteinu party with a 37 to 10 majority. Under it, Israel has the right to revoke the citizenship of those who commit ”serious security breaches” to the government or the public.
It applies to anyone convicted of terrorism or interferes with the country's sovereignty or public safety or helps instigate war or supports the enemy during war or engages in espionage.
According to the Israeli foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman, also from the Yisrael Beiteinu party, the law helps to curb ”abuse of Israel's democratic system for the purpose of undermining it.”
Arab MK Jamal Zahalka denied that the law was security-related and said that the Israeli security service Shin Bet had opposed the draft.
”It is a political, ideological, racial and fascist game to pass more laws targeting Arabs,” he said.
He pointed out that the Attorney General denied that the law would apply to Yigal Amir, a Jew who assassinated former Israeli president Yitzhak Rabin.
Zahalka added that under international law it is prohibited to revoke citizenship.
The Knesset also approved last night a law stripping former Arab MK Azmi Bishara of privileges received in his retirement plan, and stripping also the privileges of any public official suspected of involvement in ”terroristic activities”.According to Israeli sources, the law, also proposed by David Rotem, was supported by 29 members of Knesset and opposed by only its eight Arab members.
The law was passed just days after three other racially tied laws last weekend. They include the ”Nakba law” which prohibits the commemoration of the Nakba, the ”admission committees” law, which allows town committees to racially select its residents, and another law forcing those whose homes are demolished by Israeli planning authorities to pay for the demolition and the food of the police and those who demolish the structure.
According to a report issued by the Israeli anti-racism coalition, the Knesset has discussed 24 ”racist” draft laws last year.
Abu Sabh: Israeli new laws will make Shalit's captors raise their demands
[ 29/03/2011 - 06:23 PM ]
GAZA, (PIC)-- The Palestinian prisoner affairs minister Attallah Abu Sabh has called on the world community to intervene as the Israel Knesset is expected to approve a law tightening restrictions on Palestinian war prisoners.
He asserted that the new set of laws contravenes the fourth Geneva convention.
Members of Knesset drafted four laws enforcing stricter conditions on Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. It was discussed by the internal committee, which decided concluding its last session to consolidate them into one draft law to be put to a vote in the Knesset's first reading during its next session.
The law is aimed at accelerating the liberation of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was captured by resistance forces in Gaza three years back.
Minister Abu Sabh added that ”All attempts by the occupation to pressure the factions that captured Shalit using captives held in its prisons will not work to force its conditions on the prisoner swap deal, which is aimed at losing the importance of the swap deal and eliminating the most important component, which is to free the heavily sentenced prisoners.
”The [move] could in fact perpetuate the positions of the factions and cause them to increase their demands. This is what Shalit's father understood as he attended the hearing and called for the non-implementation of the law to change conditions of prisoners, and also demanded that his son's name not be used on the laws if they were passed, for fear that it would have a negative effect on negotiations.”
He pointed out that Israel already violates many norms and laws and deprives prisoners of basic rights. He said they are not given quality food and medicine and are deprived of education and visits and thrown into solitary confinement. Their cells are also raided and searched regularly, and they are beaten.
He added that Israel also intends to side-track the world from its crimes against war prisoners and make it appear that it provides prisoners all of their needs.
River to Sea
Uprooted Palestinian
[ 29/03/2011 - 06:23 PM ]
GAZA, (PIC)-- The Palestinian prisoner affairs minister Attallah Abu Sabh has called on the world community to intervene as the Israel Knesset is expected to approve a law tightening restrictions on Palestinian war prisoners.
He asserted that the new set of laws contravenes the fourth Geneva convention.
Members of Knesset drafted four laws enforcing stricter conditions on Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. It was discussed by the internal committee, which decided concluding its last session to consolidate them into one draft law to be put to a vote in the Knesset's first reading during its next session.
The law is aimed at accelerating the liberation of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, who was captured by resistance forces in Gaza three years back.
Minister Abu Sabh added that ”All attempts by the occupation to pressure the factions that captured Shalit using captives held in its prisons will not work to force its conditions on the prisoner swap deal, which is aimed at losing the importance of the swap deal and eliminating the most important component, which is to free the heavily sentenced prisoners.
”The [move] could in fact perpetuate the positions of the factions and cause them to increase their demands. This is what Shalit's father understood as he attended the hearing and called for the non-implementation of the law to change conditions of prisoners, and also demanded that his son's name not be used on the laws if they were passed, for fear that it would have a negative effect on negotiations.”
He pointed out that Israel already violates many norms and laws and deprives prisoners of basic rights. He said they are not given quality food and medicine and are deprived of education and visits and thrown into solitary confinement. Their cells are also raided and searched regularly, and they are beaten.
He added that Israel also intends to side-track the world from its crimes against war prisoners and make it appear that it provides prisoners all of their needs.
River to Sea
Uprooted Palestinian
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