Majadele refuses to sing national anthem

[Scurrilous]

Rightist MKs slam Israel's first Arab minister, who said in newspaper interview he would not sing anthem, because song was written 'only for Jews'

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3377681,00.html

<snip>

"Rightist Knesset members strongly criticized Minister Raleb Majadele Saturday, after he said in an interview to Yedioth Ahronoth this weekend that he refuses to sing Israel's national anthem, Hatikva.

In the interview, Majadele said, "Of course I would not sing the anthem in its current form. But before we talk about symbols, I want to talk about equal education for my children. It's more important that my son would be able to buy a house, live with dignity… the Arabs are not in a mood to sing right now."

Majadele told Ynet following interview that, "As a government minister, I swore allegiance to the laws of the State of Israel, and I intend to honor them." Majadele noted that he expresses his respect to the national anthem by standing up whenever the song is being sung.

"To the best of my knowledge, the law does not require me to sing the anthem, but to honor it. I fail to understand how an enlightened, sane Jew allows himself to ask a Muslim person with a different language and culture, to sing an anthem that was written for Jews only," he added."

[Violet_Crumble]

1. But apparently it's okay to incite violence against the Israeli govt....

Majadele's statements prompted harsh responses among right-wing MKs. MK Arieh Eldad (National Union-National Religious Party) said that a man who refuses to sing the national anthem should not be a minister.

"Eldad is a Revisionist Zionist who believes in the ideas of Zionist philosopher Zeev Jabotinsky. Eldad supports the right of Jews to live in any part of the Land of Israel and opposes any surrender of Israeli sovereignty to the PLO. Eldad supports Moledet's plan to transfer the Palestinian Arabs to the Arab states. Eldad opposes the creation of any Palestinian Arab state west of the Jordan River and called its possibility a "disaster".

Prior to the scheduled Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the northern West Bank in August 2005, Eldad was the only member of parliament to call for non-violent civil disobedience as a tactic in the struggle against the government. Eldad even walked the few hundred kilometres between the now evacuated community of Sa-Nur (in Northern Samaria) to Neve Dekalim in order to attract attention to the opposition of the Withdrawal plan.

In the February 2006 dismantlement of the Amona outpost Eldad was injured during the confrontation between demonstrators and police as was his ally MK Effie Eitam. The event caused a storm of criticism on both sides, as interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert accused them of inciting the crowd to attack the police, and they accused Olmert and the police of reckless use of force. Eldad is the only secular Member of Knesset in the National Union party."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arie_Eldad

[oberliner]

3. you're taking Olmert's word for it?

Eldad claims it was non-violent civil disobedience. Olmert accused the group of inciting violence.

You believe Olmert's version?

Have you read the Wikipedia entry on Amona?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amona

[Violet_Crumble]

4. And yr problem with that is?

It must be so hard to deal with that I'd tend to believe Olmert over some nutjob religious MK....

[oberliner]

5. How about B'Tselem?

2 Feb. 06: B'Tselem: Investigate Excessive Force in 'Amona Demolitions

B'Tselem wrote to Israel's Attorney General, Menachem Mazuz, asking him to order an investigation into the excessive force used by the Israel Police during the dismantling of the permanent houses in the 'Amona settlement. In its letter, the organization noted that the Department for the Investigation of Police must investigate suspicions of illegal behavior, both in the orders that were issued and in the police use of violence against demonstrators that did not actively resist or attack police officers.

B'Tselem notes that all Israeli settlements in the West Bank, including the unauthorized outposts, are a violation of international law. The decision to evict settlers from 'Amona and destroy the permanent houses there was justified. However, during the course of the eviction, police officers used force that exceeded what was necessary to remove demonstrators. B'Tselem calls upon the security forces to prevent the use of excessive force in future operations.

http://www.btselem.org/english/Press_Releases/20060202.asp

[Violet_Crumble]

6. I'm still curious to know why you think I wouldn't take Olmert's word for something..

I'm a bit confused. Where have I ever said Olmert was a liar? I can't recall ever doing that, so I'm a bit confused as to why you seem to have a problem with me taking his word over that of a raving religious nutjob...

[oberliner]

7. Because Olmert is notorious for spinning events in a certain way?

Kind of like the current US President.

Olmert is probably the least trusted leader in his country's history.

Also there is video footage and first-hand evidence which indicates that Olmert's version of the events may not be entirely accurate.

Here is another article, this one deals with the results of the parliamentary inquiry into the clashes:

Amona inquiry: Police used excessive force

Police officers involved in the evacuation of the illegal West Bank outpost of Amona used excessive force, while politicians failed to coordinate the operation with forces, a commission of inquiry into the violent clashes ruled.

About 50 days after the violence evacuation, the parliamentary commission of inquiry into clashes that left hundreds wounded submitted its interim report Tuesday morning.

The committee's findings reveal that it found it difficult to point to the reasons for the unprecedented violence involving officers and settlers.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3230393,00.html

[oberliner]

2. reminds me of this W quote from last year

"I think the national anthem ought to be sung in English, and I think people who want to be a citizen of this country ought to learn English and they ought to learn to sing the national anthem in English."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/28/AR2006042801036.html

[Scurrilous]

8. Toward the next 60 years

<snip>

"If there is one minister in the government of Israel who does not sing the national anthem, then perhaps the national anthem should be re-examined.

"Hatikvah" - "The Hope" - was established as the anthem of the Zionist movement and the Jewish people by a resolution of the 18th Zionist Congress, in 1933. It gave apt expression to the aspiration of the Jews to be a free people in their land, Zion. Upon the establishment of the state, it became the national anthem. During the state's first years, when Israel's existence was fragile and not at all secure, "Hatikvah" was still relevant to Israeli aspirations. Today, even if Sderot is still under attack, and only last summer there was a war here, it is clear that the aspirations of the Jews have been realized in a very impressive way. Despite all the difficulties and threats, the State of Israel is one of the great success stories of the 20th century.

The fulfillment of a dream is not a reason to replace an anthem, but "Hatikvah" has an obvious practical disadvantage: It addresses only Jews. "For as long as deep within the heart a Jewish soul is yearning..." - so begins "Hatikvah." How can an Arab citizen identify with such an anthem?

The act of singing the national anthem is an expression of solidarity with other citizens and with the state. This is an opportunity that is denied the Arabs of Israel, who make up one fifth of the population, and it is clear that the losers are both the state and its Jewish citizens."

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