In radical new bill the proposed law would allow the Israeli Government to gag political critics and close down any organizations that investigates and/or legally challenge the abuses by Israeli officials or military. It seems this is a bill in response to the war in Gaza that has brought much criticism to heavy handed military tactics used against Gaza.
This proposed law could be used to trump all freedom of speech that is critical the Israeli Government, such as the Goldstone's report which “said both Israel and Hamas were suspected of war crimes and should hold their own independent investigations. The report met with intense criticism from Israeli officials.” (here)
According to a recent Poll by the Ha’aretz newspaper the majority of respondents (57.6%) want to put a gag on freedom of speech for human rights groups that expose immoral conduct. Majority of Poll responders “favor punishing Israeli citizens who support sanctioning or boycotting the country, and support punishing journalists who report news that reflects badly on the actions of the defense establishment.” (here)
Another 82% were polled “said they back stiff penalties for people who leak illegally obtained information exposing immoral conduct by the defense establishment.” So basically wistle blowers exposing corruption or immoral behavior will be out lawed and punished by this bill if it becomes law.
Continuing with these trends “Of those who said they were right-wing, 76 percent said human rights groups should not have the right to freely publicize immoral conduct on Israel's part.” And 65% of everyone polled want the “media should be barred from publishing news that defense officials think could endanger state security, even if the news was reported abroad.” (here)
Yet, another proposed Israeli bill seeks to outlaw boycott in both the settlements and Israel. This is the “third in a series of proposed laws seeking to restrict the activities of peace activists and human rights organizations inIsraeland theOccupied Palestinian Territory(OPT), has been proposed by a group of Members ofKnesset.”
If passed into law the bill “will impose fines, economic sanctions and entry bans against initiators or supporters of boycott activities.” The law breakers could pay upto 30,000 NIS if found guilty, if not a citizen or resident could have entry into Israel revoked for 10 years at least, and be forbidden to carry out any action in Israeli banks accounts, in shares traded in Israel, or any other property demanding registration of transfer. See entire translation of Bill here.
This is truly a draconian proposed law which has many in Israel worried. Israel is going down the same path that led to NAZI German, Stalin Russia, and Maoist China. Just like in NAZI Germany as peoples rights where being taken away though tyranny and scapegoating, the war propaganda machines where swung into full gear to justify preemptive war and scaring the public behind the oligarchy that would rule them with an iron fist.
Finally, yet another new proposed law would require everyone to declare their loyalty to “a Jewish and democratic state" before being granted Israeli citizenship.” Adalah - the Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel yesterday protested the proposed wording of the loyalty declaration, and said it “requires all non-Jews to identify with Zionism and imposes a political ideology and loyalty to the principles of Judaism and Zionism." (here)
Excuse me but is this running parallel too, and amounts to what Hitler did in NAZI Germany with his required loyalty oaths. One might argue that it goes further than Hitler, Mao, or Stalin in not just suppressing certain religions but requiring people of Muslim, Christian, or other backgrounds to swear loyalty to a religious ideology that goes counter to what their most sacred beliefs are. It’s basically a conversion by force.
Comment by:
Ross Wolf (#28231) Entered on: 2010-07-29 09:08:38
Read Here: Hitler’s Laws That Crushed Free Speech
DECREE OF THE REICH
PRESIDENT FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE PEOPLE AND STATE
Note: Based on translations by
State Department, National Socialism, 1942 PP. 215-17, and Pollak, J.K., and
Heneman, H.J., The Hitler Decrees, (1934), pp. 10-11.7
In virtue of Section 48 (2) of
the German Constitution, the following is decreed as a defensive measure
against Communist acts of Violence, endangering the state:
Section 1
Sections 114, 115, 117, 118, 123, 124, and 153 of the
Constitution of the German Reich are suspended until further notice. Thus,
restrictions on personal liberty, on the right of free expression of opinion,
including freedom of the press, on the right of assembly and the right of
association, and violations of the privacy of postal, telegraphic, and
telephonic communications, and warrants for house-searches, orders for
confiscations as well as restrictions on property, are also permissible beyond
the legal limits otherwise prescribed.
Section 2
If in a state the measures necessary for the restoration
of public security and order are not taken, the Reich Government may
temporarily take over the powers of the highest state authority.
Section 4
Whoever provokes, or appeals for or incites to the
disobedience of the orders given out by the supreme state authorities or the
authorities subject to then for the execution of this decree, or the orders
given by the Reich Government according to Section 2, is punishable—insofar as
the deed, is not covered by the decree with more severe punishment and with
imprisonment of not less that one month, or with a fine from 150 up to 15,000
Reichsmarks.
Who ever endangers human life by violating Section 1, is
to be punished by sentence to a penitentiary, under mitigating circumstances
with imprisonment of not less than six months and, when violation causes the
death of a person, with death, under mitigating circumstances with a
penitentiary sentence of not less that two years. In addition the sentence my
include confiscation of property.
Whoever provokes an inciter to or act contrary to public
welfare is to be punished with a penitentiary sentence, under mitigating
circumstances, with imprisonment of not less than three months.
Section 5
The crimes which under the
Criminal Code are punishable with penitentiary for life are to be punished with
death: i.e., in Sections 81 (high treason), 229 (poisoning), 306 (arson), 311
(explosion), 312 (floods), 315, paragraph 2 (damage to railroad properties, 324
(general poisoning).
Insofar as a more severe
punishment has not been previously provided for, the following are punishable
with death or with life imprisonment or with imprisonment not to exceed 15
years:
1. Anyone who undertakes to kill the Reich President or a
member or a commissioner of the Reich Government or of a state government, or
provokes to such a killing, or agrees to commit it, or accepts such an offer,
or conspires with another for such a murder;
2. Anyone who under Section 115 (2) of the Criminal Code
(serious rioting) or of Section 125 (2) of the Criminal Code (serious
disturbance of the peace) commits the act with arms or cooperates consciously
and intentionally with an armed person;
3. Anyone who commits a kidnapping under Section 239 of the
Criminal with the intention of making use of the kidnapped person as a hostage
in the political struggle.
Section 6
This decree enters in force on the day of its promulgation.
Reich President
Reich Chancellor
Reich Minister of the Interior
Reich Minister of Justice
------------------------------
Compare Sen. John McCain’s bill introduced March 4,
2010,
The “Enemy Belligerent
Interrogation, Detention, and Prosecution Act of 2010.”
Sen. McCain’s S.3081 would eliminate several
Constitutional protections allowing Government to arbitrarily pick up Americans
on mere suspicion—with no probable cause. Your political opinions and
statements made against U.S. Government could be used by Authorities to deem
you a “hostile” “Enemy Belligerent” to cause your arrest and indefinite
detention. S.3081 is so broadly written innocent anti-war protesters and Tea
Party Groups might be arrested and detained just for attending demonstrations;
Government could charge that attending demonstrations "materially
supported hostilities." McCain’s bill if passed could be used by a corrupt
U.S. Government to indefinitely detain any Citizen, group or organization that
dared question government.
Under S.3081, an “individual” need only be suspected by
Government of “suspicious activity” or “supporting hostilities” to be dragged
off and held indefinitely in Military Custody. Government would have the power
to detain and interrogate any individual without probable cause. Government
need only allege an individual kept in detention, is an Unprivileged Enemy
Belligerent suspected of; having engaged in hostilities against the United
States or its coalition partners; or has purposefully and materially supported
hostilities against the United States; its coalition partners or U.S.
civilians. How could one prove to Government they did not purposely do
something? “Materially Supporting Hostilities” against the United States could
include any person or group that spoke out or demonstrated disapproval against
an agency of U.S. Government. The Definition for Unprivileged Enemy
Belligerent: (Anyone Subject to a Military Commission)
At least under the Patriot Act, law enforcement generally
needed probable cause to detain a person indefinitely. Passage of S.3081 will
permit government to use “mere suspicion” to curtail an individual’s
Constitutional Protections against unlawful arrest, detention and interrogation
without benefit of legal counsel and trial. According to S.3081 Government is
not required to provide detained individuals U.S. Miranda Warnings or even an attorney.
S.3081 if passed will frighten Americans from speaking
out. S.3081 is so broadly written, it appears any “individual” who writes on
the Internet or verbally express an opinion against or an entity of U.S.
Government or its coalition partners might be detained on the basis he or she
is an “unprivileged enemy belligerent”, “supporting hostilities against U.S.
Government.” The “supporting hostilities” provisions in S.3081 are so broad,
Government could use mere “suspicion” to detain U.S. corporate executives on
the premise their corporations “supported hostilities” by providing goods or
services to a nation engaged in hostilities against the United States.
How might Americans respond should Government use this
bill to take away their loved ones, family members and friends on mere
suspicion? It is foreseeable McCain’s bill will drive lawful political
activists underground, perhaps creating the domestic terrorists McCain said we
needed to be protected from.
McCain’s bill mentions “non-violent acts" supporting
terrorism in the U.S. and or emanating from America against a Coalition
Partner. Non-violent terrorist acts are covered in the Patriot Act to prosecute
Persons that support (coercion to influence a government or intimidation to
affect a civilian population.) However, U.S. activists and individuals under
S.3081 would be much more vulnerable to detention and prosecution, if (charged
with suspicion) of “intentionally providing support to an Act of Terrorism”,
for example American activists can’t control what other activists might do
illegally—they network with domestically and overseas. Under the Patriot Act,
law enforcement generally needsprobable cause to detain or prosecute someone.
But under S.3081, law enforcement and the military can too easily use (hearsay
or informants) to allege “suspicious activity” to detain an individual. It is
problematic under S.3081 that detained individuals in the U.S. not involved in
terrorism or hostile activities, not given Miranda Warnings or allowed legal
counsel will be prosecuted for ordinary crimes because of their alleged
admissions while in military custody.
Notably, McCain’s S.3081 mandates
(merging) Federal, State and Local Police and subsequently the U.S. Military to
detain and hold Individuals in the U.S., even without probable cause.
Interestingly a Rand Report prepared for the Army, recently made public,
appears to suggest that U.S. Government develop a Local, State and Federal U.S.
"National Police Stabilization Force merging State law enforcement with
the Feds. What could happen to State Rights and what Laws and Jurisdiction
would be used to prosecute state Citizens arrested by a National Police
Stabilization Force? A National Police Force could potentially be sent by the
President into any State with the approval of its governor, against the wishes
of its Citizens? To clarify the Rand Corporation report visit:
Historically it is foreseeable under S.3081 that
"erroneous informant information" would be used to detain innocent
Individuals. Other countries have used lying informants to imprison; even
execute political opposition.
Under S.3081 government may use an individual’s phone call
and email information to allege without probable cause “suspicious or hostile
activity against a U.S. civilian population or the United States to detain
Americans.”
(Make Your Own Determination If The Analysis Herein Is
Correct) See McCain’s 12-page Senate bill S.3081 at:
FYI: below see paragraph in “Hitler’s Discriminatory
Decrees signed February 28, 1933.” Although the Nazi Decrees are written
differently than S.3081, the McCain bill could bring America to the same place
crushing free speech and personal liberty. Note how the Nazi Government in
Section (1) and (4), similar to U.S. S.3081, suspend personal liberty— shutdown
Free Speech to intimidate Citizens speaking out against Government:
See Section 1
“Sections 114, 115, 117, 118, 123, 124, and 153 of the
Constitution of the German Reich are suspended until further notice. Thus,
restrictions on personal liberty, on the right of free expression of opinion,
including freedom of the press, on the right of assembly and the right of
association, and violations of the privacy of postal, telegraphic, and
telephonic communications, and warrants for house-searches, orders for
confiscations as well as restrictions on property, are also permissible beyond
the legal limits otherwise prescribed.”
Similar to McCain’s S. 3081, but using different wording
the Nazi 1933 Discriminatory Laws in Section (4) see below, suspended
Constitutional rights, ordering the arrest of Citizens for any ACT that might
incite or provoke disobedience against state authorities. McCain’s S.3081
instead mentions detaining and prosecuting Individuals for “supporting
hostilities” against U.S. Government. S.3081 is so broadly written any person
or group attending a protest could be arrested without provable cause and
detained if government charged a protest-supported hostilities.
See Section 4
Whoever provokes, or appeals for or incites to the
disobedience of the orders given out by the supreme state authorities or the
authorities subject to then for the execution of this decree, or the orders
given by the Reich Government according to Section 2, is punishable—insofar as
the deed, is not covered by the decree with more severe punishment and with
imprisonment of not less that one month, or with a fine from 150 up to 15,000
Reichsmarks.
Comment by:
Lucky Red (#20562) Entered on: 2010-07-29 06:35:55
Thank you, Mike Renzulli for proving my point. Ha ha! You've earned your keep today, now, you can bill the State of Israel $150 USD for your deed. Dishonest but well done nonetheless.
Comment by:
Mike Renzulli (#05236) Entered on: 2010-07-29 06:18:59
Lucky Red's comments are a prime example of the anti-Semitism of the left. Especially communists like him. It's unfortunate that many libertarians (including many who paruse this website) buy into Lucky Red's point of view on the Gaza/Israel dispute. It's one thing to criticize Israel but it is quite another to actually hate the country if not the Jews themselves.What Red really hates is the fact that Israel is wealthy while the Gazans/Palestinians are poor. Never mind Hamas halted Gazans from being able to work in Israel shortly after they took power and that Israel sends aid to Gaza (such as food) yet (like Fatah) Hamas is a terrorist organization and routinely terrorizes it's own populace especially non-Muslims.
Comment by:
Lucky Red (#20562) Entered on: 2010-07-29 06:01:06
Elementary, my dear Watson! Hypocrisy is the core of Israel. Do unto others as you would not have them do onto you.
Now, I'm surprised that the Israel apologists and Hasbarists are not out enforced defending this and calling anyone who dares dissent with almighty Israel an "anti-semite" whilst reminding them of the Holocust(tm) and blaming Hamas, Hamas, Hamas for it.
Comment by:
Mike Renzulli (#05236) Entered on: 2010-07-29 05:00:31
The bill(s) you are referring to are geared to curb activities by grounds supported by the Palestinian Authority. Meaning the Israeli government is going to clamp down on Hamas and other foreign governments (like Iran) attempting to influence Israeli policies internally by funding groups friendly to them. This is not about silencing critics as much as it is about halting the practice of free speech as much as it is to halt the activities of groups friendly to terrorists.