To: epearlag@earthlink.net
Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 10:55 AM
Subject: Re: Guy Carawan and Singing Out for Justice - Sat., Oct. 23
Hi Ed.
The promo piece on KPFK will be Thursday morning about 8:20.
We will talk for about ten minutes.
See you soon and best wishes,
Candie
***
From: "Portside Moderator" <moderator@PORTSIDE.ORG>
Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 9:00 PM
Thousands Protest Israeli Loyalty Oath Bill - Reports from Israel
1. 8000 People Demonstrate in Tel Aviv in Defence of
Democracy (Alternative Information Center (AIC))
2. Thousands protest loyalty oath bill (YNetNews)
3. US Reform Rabbis: Loyalty Oath Undemocratic - Central
Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR)
==========
8000 People Demonstrate in Tel Aviv in Defence of Democracy
Alternative Information Center (AIC)
Sunday, 17 October 2010 15:30
Some 8,000 people marched through Tel Aviv to the Ministry of Defence last
night (16 October) in protest of the racist laws being promoted by the
Israeli government and the transfer exercises of the Israeli security
forces.
A long list of organizations, movements and political parties participated
in the demonstration, including the Hadash party, Hithabrut-Tarabut and the
Negev Forum for Civil Equality, amongst others.
Last Sunday (10 October) the Israeli government approved a draft law of a
new oath requiring any non-Jewish person taking Israeli citizenship to swear
allegiance to the country as a "Jewish and democratic state, a proposal the
Knesset is expected to pass.
During the demonstration, Knesset Member Dov Hanin (Hadash) said that "we
are witness here to a demonstration of strength of the left in Israel." He
added that "Jews and Arabs from throughout the country came tonight. We
intend to struggle against the wave of racist and anti-democratic
legislation...in Israel there exists a large group that is willing to fight
against racism and on behalf of democracy, and this struggle will grow
larger. Democracy has become a fateful question for everyone and we all
need to mobilize so that the answer to this question is the correct one."
==========
Thousands protest loyalty oath bill
Masses gather in Tel Aviv to demonstrate against amendment to Citizenship
Act. Demonstrators hold signs reading 'Lieberman, Lieberman, a fascist and a
racist,' 'Together we'll protect democracy'
by Yoav Zitun
YNetNews.com
Published: October 16, 2010
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3970192,00.html
Protest over the amendment to the Citizenship Act continues - some 6,000
people on Saturday evening gathered in Tel Aviv's Gan Meir to protest of the
loyalty oath bill, which was approved by the government on Sunday.
The participants, who marched toward the Sarona compound, carried signs
reading: "Lieberman's voice, Netanyahu's hands", "Fascism and ethnic
cleansing are standing proud"
and "together we'll protect democracy."
Some demonstrators carried Israeli flags and red flags, and chanted,
"Lieberman, Lieberman, a fascist and a racist too".
Leading the procession were Members of Knesset Dov Khenin and Muhammad
Barakeh (Hadash), former MK Mossi Raz (Meretz) and Peace Now
Director-General Yariv Oppenheimer.
"We are here to protest with the entire street against the dangerous policy
of the government, which Labor ministers also support," Oppenheimer told
Ynet.
"Democracy will prevail and racism will be defeated. There is no room for
(Prime Minister Netanyahu) Bibi and Lieberman's games in the peace process.
Everyone's interest is for a two-state solution. There will be no
(population) transfer here," added MK Barakeh.
The protest organizers distributed leaflets titled: "The Israeli
government's loyalty oath to the citizens of this country," which read, "I
promise not to discriminate or deprive anyone because of their descent, sex,
nationality, accent, color, culture, economic status or any other factor. We
demand the members of Knesset to be loyal to us and grant us the right to
live in dignity, security and hope for the future."
Many police officers were dispatched along the procession in an effort to
maintain order. Some demonstrators placed a sticker on their mouths, which
read: "I am being silenced."
The protesters marched to Sarona, in front of the Defense Ministry, where
they held a rally.
Speaking on a park bench in Sarona garden, MK Khenin said, "The democratic
freedom is in grave danger. The nightmare of a transfer is turning into a
realistic plan, and that's why we stand here today. The foul wave that
started with the Arabs has now reached the Jews who dare think differently.
"Attacks on universities, artists and academicians have also become part of
the internal danger. We stand before a fatal battle for our future," he
added.
Meretz Chairman Chaim Oron also spoke during the rally and said, "A bad
spirit is hovering above this land. The test that stands before us is
complicated and complex. The Knesset has 11 pending bills that are oozing of
racism. We must stop this wave.
"We cannot run a democratic country as long as there is an occupation. We
call on the government and the Knesset to freeze all racist laws and
continue to freeze the construction in the settlements," he said.
==========
US Reform Rabbis: Loyalty Oath Undemocratic
by Kobi Nahshoni
YNetNews.com
October 17, 2010
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3970731,00.html
American Reform rabbis issue statement condemning amendment to Citizenship
Law, saying 'oxymoronic law' will strengthen Israel's enemies. 'This
legislation greatly diminishes Israel's Jewish character,' they say
US Reform rabbis issued a statement Sunday condemning the loyalty oath bill,
an amendment to Israel's Citizenship Law that requires all new non-Jewish
immigrants to pledge allegiance to a Jewish democratic state.
The Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR), which authored the
statement, warned that forcing Arab citizens to take a loyalty oath will
strengthen Israel's enemies and harm the State's security.
CCAR claimed that the oath, proposed by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman
of Yisrael Beiteinu and supported by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,
creates "one law for Jews
and another law for non-Jews." The amendment was approved in the Knesset on
October 10.
"It would turn Israel into the very kind of country which historically Jews
themselves have rightly cursed for their unequal treatment of non-Christians
and non-Muslims," CCAR stated.
According to CCAR, which represents nearly 2,000 Reform rabbis, the loyalty
oath denies non-Jewish citizens the political rights and the freedom of
conscience guaranteed by Israel's Declaration of Independence. The
organization quoted the declaration promising full and equal citizenship to
Arab Israelis, and asserted that the loyalty oath goes against this
provision.
"Our deep conviction that Israel is and must remain both Jewish and
democratic is precisely what compels us to oppose this oxymoronic law," CCAR
stated. "For in requiring non-Jewish citizens to pledge loyalty to Israel as
a Jewish and democratic state, this legislation greatly diminishes Israel's
Jewish character and compromises its democratic commitment."
The organization was especially outraged that the loyalty oath might send a
message that co-existence between Jews, Muslims and Christians in a Jewish
state is impossible.
"More than symbolic loyalty statements, Israel needs its non-Jewish citizens
as partners in peace, equally invested in the future of the state," CCAR
said.
Moreover, the Reform leaders wrote that the loyalty oath defies the Torah,
which commands the Jewish people not to oppress others living amongst it.
"If this legislation comes to the floor of the Knesset," the statement
concluded, "we implore all those who themselves would be loyal to Israel's
democratic and Jewish character to oppose and vote down once and for all
this un-Jewish and un-democratic legislation."
==========
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