Israeli Cabinet Pushes Bill to Ban Using ‘Nazi’ and ‘Similar-Sounding Words’ in Protests
Civil Rights Group Slams Govt. Attempts to Restrict Public Debate
In reaction to a public protest by members of the Ultra Orthodox community against the Israeli government, the nation’s cabinet has given its support for a new Knesset bill that would criminalize the use of the term “Nazi” or “similar-sounding words” during public protests on any topic, threatening a six month prison term and $26,000 in fines for any such offense.
The Ultra Orthodox protesters were condemning efforts by the secular community to prevent discrimination against women among the more religious Israelis, saying criticism of their efforts at gender segregation would make Hitler proud and accusing the secular Israelis of a “spiritual Holocaust.”
In addition to the word ban, the bill would criminalize the use of yellow stars of David during protests as well as all “photographs, drawings, sculptures and the like depicting a swastika.”
The effort was condemned by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, saying it was dangerous to attempt to regulate public debate, and that freedom of expression needed to include the right to say “hurtful things.”
MPs who supported the bill defended the efforts to restrict speech, saying that the word “Nazi” and any references to the Holocaust are a special case not covered by traditional freedom of expression.
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MoT
January 9th, 2012 at 9:22 pm
So in the fevered brains of some tasseled Israelis the word "Nazi" is now as verboten as "Palestinian"? Oy vey!
tomofsnj
January 10th, 2012 at 5:15 am
They are worried that if catch words become everyday words it will get in the way of the big industry that they have created playing the victim. They get billions off playing the victim even 70 years later and almost none of those who suffered are still alive. It is time to have everyone understand that many different people have suffered bad things and the suffering should not be a profit for a few.
sherban
January 10th, 2012 at 5:36 am
There are people who deal with words to be banned and there it is the only one democracy in the zone.Meanwhile "Nazi" and probably "apartheid"and "nakba" are banned but you can use Nazi how you wish but linked with Islam.
Fed up
January 10th, 2012 at 8:24 am
The New N word
MoT
January 10th, 2012 at 9:57 am
I should have corrected my statement. It would appear the Ultra Orthodox were in fact the ones using the imagery and the legal manouvering by other Israelis was to put a stop to it. Clearly the Orthodox are in many ways shrill lunatics but I wouldn't go so far as to make laws silencing anyone. You should be free to make an idiot of yourself if you so choose.
ML3
January 10th, 2012 at 3:22 pm
i like the picture of the Turkish PM given as an example…as if Netanyahoo and Lieberman aren't Fascist enough for them to point to.
You'd think given their history, their tolerance and their current leaders, Israelis would know best who the Nazi Fascist is and wouldn't have took very far beyond their own borders.