Thousands march in Tel Aviv against loyalty oath bill
Hadash MK Dov Khenin warns concept of a population transfer of Israel's Arab citizens has turned from a nightmare into an operational plan.
By Asaf Shtull-TrauringTags: Israel news Tel AvivDov Khenin loyalty oathThousands marched in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening in a joint Jewish-Arab protest against the cabinet's approval of a controversial amendment to the citizenship bill, requiring non-Jews seeking citizenship to pledge allegiance to Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.
 | Left-wing demonstration against loyalty oath bill in Tel Aviv on October 16, 2010. |
| Photo by: Tal Cohen |
The demonstrators marched carrying signs reading "Jews and Arabs refuse to be enemies" and "Together we will protect the democratic space". Among the organizers of the protests were Hadash, Meretz, The Green Movement, and Gush Shalom parties and many social and human rights organizations.
Khenin warned that the idea of a population transfer of Israel's Arab citizens to a Palestinian state started as a nightmare, but has since transformed into a practical plan.Top political figures delivered speeches during the demonstration, among them Hadash MK Dov Khenin, Meretz MK Haim Oron, Hadash MK Mohammed Barakeh, and journalist Merav Michaeli.
"The statement 'The Arab citizens of Israel are the true demographic threat' was not uttered by Rabbi Meir Kahane or Avigdor Lieberman, but by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Jerusalem conference. Two years ago, the idea of population transfer was a slogan of extreme right-wing parties. A month ago it was the subject of an official speech by the Foreign Minister in the United Nations," Khenin said.
"Friends, the population transfer has turned from a nightmare into an operational plan. Against this we stand here today."
 | "In Nuremberg it also began with legislation!" / "Not loyal to Lieberman!" / "If there's racism, there will be no loyalty!" |
| Photo by: Tal Cohen |
Meretz MK Oron also condemned the loyalty oath bill, calling it racist and anti-democratic.
"This anti-democratic attack of legislation was meant to exclude the Arab population from the democratic game and to eternalize an ethnocentric right-wing regime in the government," said Oron. "The Knesset has 11 bills pending, and each one of them oozes with racism."
Last week, cabinet ministers approved by a majority vote a controversial amendment which would require every non-Jew wishing to become a citizen of Israel to pledge loyalty to "the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state."
The amendment is one of the promises Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made to Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beitenu party in the coalition agreements. Since coming into government Yisrael Beitenu has advanced a long list of "loyalty" laws, which many consider to be discriminatory against Israel's Arab citizens.
 | "The voice is the voice of Lieberman, but the hands are the hands of Netanyahu" (Biblical reference meaning here that Netanyahu supports Lieberman's extreme statements). |
| Photo by: Tal Cohen |
Lieberman: Palestinians may try to form autonomous Arab regions within Israel
Foreign minister says there is a possibility the Palestinians may try to delegitimize Israel as a Jewish state.
By Barak RavidTags: Israel newsAvigdor LiebermanMiddle East peacePalestinians
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said Tuesday that the Palestinians' refusal to recognize Israel as a Jewish state raises concern that before reaching a peace deal, they would try to create autonomous Arab regions within Israel.
While meeting with Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb in Jerusalem, Lieberman also said that there is a possibility that the Palestinians may try to delegitimize Israel as a Jewish state.
 | Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman before his meeting with his Finnish counterpart on October 12, 2010. |
| Photo by: Reuters |
During their meeting, Lieberman and Stubb discussed the Middle East peace process, as well as relations between Israel and the European Union and Israel and Finland."The Palestinians' attitude towards recognizing Israel as a Jewish state forces us to insist on it," said Lieberman. He added that there is no question that Israel has the will for peace, but a question does exist regarding which road to take to get there.
On Sunday, Lieberman met with the foreign ministers of Spain and France and told them that Israel will stand up to its critics.
"In 1938 Europe placated Hitler, sacrificing Czechoslovakia instead of supporting it, and gained nothing from it," Lieberman said. "We will not be the Czechoslovakia of 2010, we will stand up for Israel's vital interests."
He also told the two foreign ministers to solve the issues in their own countries before attacking Israel.
"Solve your own problems in Europe before you come to us with complaints. Maybe then I will be open to accepting your suggestions," he told them in a dinner meeting
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