Israel Matzav

We are North Korea

Israel has taken a step in the direction of North Korea.

In light of word that the yeshiva that was expelled from Gush Katif (Gaza) hung a sign on their bulletin board congratulating everyone on Ariel Sharon's demise, Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aronovich announced that he is opening an investigation into those who expressed happiness over Sharon's passing (link in Hebrew).

Those under investigation might include Jewish Home party MK Orit Struck, who lives in Hebron, and who thanked God on Sunday morning for stopping Sharon from perpetrating further tragedies on the revenants. Struck promptly retracted her comment when she came under attack by Sharon's ideological successor, Tzipi Livni.

Justice Minister Tzipi Livni said Struck's remarks are "disgusting incitement that embarrasses the Knesset."

"This displays her lack of intelligence. She isn't reflecting what [Sharon] did, it shows she's evil," Livni told Army Radio, repeating the word "evil" several times.

I didn't think the Knesset could possibly be embarrassed any more.

Another Israeli who may come under Aronovich's spotlight is Baruch Marzel.

Baruch Marzel, the activist from Struck's hometown of Hebron, said he's "satisfied that a threat on the Land of Israel was removed."

"Sharon was an enemy. He was one of the biggest traitors in Israel's history," Marzel told The Jerusalem Post.

Marzel is not planning any demonstrations for Sunday or Monday, but said he may reconsider later in the week.

And another is Daniella Weiss, who worries about where praise of Sharon might lead. 

"Sharon caused the expulsion from Gush Katif and northern Samaria - his old age shamed his youth," assessed Weiss. "The media uproar around his gradual death is a prelude encouraging the continued expulsion of Jews."

Weiss explains that "when they make (Sharon) a hero despite the expulsion of thousands of Jews from their homes and his casting aside the security of the state of Israel, they essentially give (Prime Minister Binyamin) Netanyahu the message that he too will be crowned a greater hero if only he follows Sharon's path."

Indeed, Netanyahu reportedly offered to lease communities in Judea and Samaria from the Palestinian Authority (PA) for a limited period of time in ongoing peace talks.

But we're still in the only democracy in the Middle East. so long as you say what we want you to say.... 

Labels: Ariel Sharon, freedom of speech, Gaza expulsion, Israeli democracy, Judea and Samaria

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 6:04 PM