The demand for each prospective resident to demonstrate loyalty to the values of Zionism is contrary to basic democratic principles, primarily the principles of equality and the freedom of each citizen to choose his or her place of residence...The demand for loyalty also raises questions about the relations between the Jewish majority and the Arab minority in Israel, as it essentially constitutes an attempt by the majority to impose a political view on the minority.
Further, the stipulation of a declaration of loyalty to the values of Zionism as a condition for being permitted to live in a town is unethical. For Arab citizens of Israel, the establishment of the State of Israel is etched in their collective memory as a trauma: the Nakba (catastrophe). As an integral part of the Palestinian people, the values of Zionism stand for their defeat and unwilling transition from the majority group in the area to a minority group in the state of another nation, according to its own definition. Thus, the demand that Arab citizens demonstrate loyalty to the values of Zionism is unethical.
Beyond the constitutional and ethical aspects of the issue, there is no practical way of enforcing the demand of loyalty. Thus the following questions arise: For the purpose of acceptance to a community town, what will Arab citizens be required to prove in order to be considered loyal to the values of Zionism? Will they be required to convert to Judaism? Will they be required to hang a picture of Theodor Herzl in their homes? How can loyalty be measured and what are the parameters by which a citizen’s level of loyalty will be determined?
Conditioning the implementation of basic rights, such as the right to choose one's place of residence upon loyalty to the ideological view of Zionism is illegal as it constitutes discrimination on the basis of national belonging. It also blatantly violates the principle of equality and contradicts binding court precedents. The operation of admissions committees that set conditions based on the candidate’s personal views is extremely dangerous. These committees serve as a means of “filtering out” groups that are not part of the majority. In principle, admissions committees can also set conditions to filter out other minority groups, and not only Arab citizens of the state.
Well, well. Let's see.
1. Why is is non-democratic to obligate a demonstrative loyalty to Zionism? Does Zionism mean you have to kill your sister if she's seen flirting with someone she's not married to, even if she isn't married herself? Or she goes out with someone not the same Muslim sect as her? Does Zionism mean you are influenced to blow yourself up on a bus - attempting to kill as many innocent civilians as possible in the process? Does Zionism force you to do something intrinsically illegal routinely?
2. Unethical? So, it was ethical to violate a UN resolution, go to war to thwart the right of Jews to establish their own state, keep up a terror campaign and incite to subversive activities including joining Arab terror groups even while you are a citizenn and sometimes burn down trees for fun?
3. It's not a matter of personal view but of national character. Imagine in republican United States I start up a monarchist group and get millions to join. Or communism? Imagine not pledging allegiance to the flag and for all its stands. You don't have to get a brit millah or wear a kippah. Just acknowledge that the Jews are a people and have the right to establish and maintain their own national homeland in the historical territory that was theirs for 2000 years.
Okay, maybe flying the flag is really problematic but can we ask you not to fly the PLO flag?
4. And we are not asking you to convert to Judaism. We have millions of Christian Zionists around the world, and Druze, too. And Muslims.
P.S. Note the Beer el Sabe in the Naqab:
Main office: 94 Yaffa Street, PO Box 8921, Haifa 31090
Tel: (972)-4-950-1610 Fax: (972)-4-950-3140
Naqab office: 28 Reger Ave # 35 Beer el Sabe, Israel
Tel: (972)-8-665-0740 Fax: (972)-8-665-0853
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment