Comments on: In Israel, Refusing President’s Hand Is Illegal…If You’re Arab

By: Moni yakim antizionist

Moni yakim antizionist — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 17:53:57 +0000

Ashkenazi racisam is the starting point to all the
problems in the middle east’ all the rest is dirty
politics…בחורבן הציונות הכוזרואשכנזית ננוחם

By: Freidenker

Freidenker — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:09:05 +0000

Mealy-mouthed hypocrites. As an Israeli who was gullible enough to think Israel is a democracy simply because he was taught this at high school, I am simply appalled.

Why is it that nothing ever works properly in this country without having to make the perpetrators of anti-democratic acts look like utter idiots? Why can’t we simply acknowledge the importance of enlightened, liberal values for their own sake?

By: Richard Silverstein

Richard Silverstein — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 08:55:34 +0000

@Huji folks: This is great news! Please send my best wishes to Ali. I’m proud of him for standing up for democracy and civil rights in Israel.

By: Huji folks

Huji folks — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 23:53:20 +0000

Hey everyone (and especially Richard),
You’ll be glad to know that Ali won the fight. check out the blog for all the detail…

many thanks for your support :)

By: Duncan Idaho

Duncan Idaho — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 09:56:09 +0000

There is not a single nation on the face of this planet with absolute and complete freedom of speech.
most democracies recognize some limitations on freedom of speech.
Hate speech, slander, libel, disruption of public order are all issues taken into consideration in maintaining and protecting freedom of speech from abuse and the well being of the citizens.

After saying that, this whole discussion is hypothetical, because Baher was not engaged by the legal authorities of Israel, but by security guards who were present at the place after causing his little riot together with his friends (again read the full story, before you comment ignorantly again)

And again, it has nothing to do with him being an Arab, if a non Arab student would cause a scene in the event, he would be engaged by security personnel as well. simple as that.

By: Richard Silverstein

Richard Silverstein — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 09:29:40 +0000

@Duncan Idaho: I will concede I was wrong in one thing: Baher did defame Peres. And I have no problem with what he said. You seem ignorant of what the term “democracy” means. It means a citizen is free to speak his mind about anyone who represents him in political office. And yes, the citizen is even allowed to call his president a “murderer of children.” This is called free speech and it is enshrined in Israel’s Declaration of Independence as a core value of the State. And btw, it doesn’t indicate there that this right doesn’t extend to Arab citizens.

Only autocrats like you believe that democracy is a “zoo.” You’d undoubtedly prefer more order and to see the trains run on time.

By: Duncan Idaho

Duncan Idaho — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 08:52:16 +0000

Nonsense. you are either ignorant of the original story, or you are twisting it for your own ends.
Not only did he refuse to shake Peres hand but Ali Baher called called Peres a “murderer of children.”
If thats speaking ones mind, than its not a democracy we are living it, but a zoo, which lets hostile people get their way.

By: Richard Silverstein

Richard Silverstein — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 02:32:26 +0000

@Duncan Idaho:

you defame a president of a nation, you better be ready to face *some* hassle

This is utter narischkeit. The Arab student didn’t “defame” Peres. He exercised his democratic right to speak his mind by refusing Peres’ hand. And the Hebrew University’s response is to treat its Arab student as if he’s spit on Herzl’s grave. It’s ludicrous. In a democracy, citizens are not serfs, except in Israel (& only certain citizens at that).