The Knesset passed two bills today designed to restrict Arab incitement. The first stipulates that one who makes a public call for an act of violence or terrorism, or praise for terrorist acts, will face up to five years in jail - if there is a concrete possibility that the call would lead to the perpetration of the violence. The second bill, sponsored by Likud MK Yisrael Katz, states that a party whose representatives express support for a violent struggle against Israel would not be permitted to run in national elections.
The second bill passed by a very large majority, 77-18, and the other one also passed, 55-36. MK Katz, only minutes before the vote, enumerated to the Knesset the many inciteful statements uttered by Arab MKs in recent months that had made the law necessary. Minister Sheetrit said afterwards, \"The Knesset has put an end to wild incitement… The law does not affect freedom of speech, but merely puts a limit on the freedom of incitement. Democracy has a right to protect itself…\" MK Ahmed Tibi, participating in the Knesset debate on the bill, said, \"You can\'t stop me at the starting line just because my name is Ahmed.\" MK Nissim Ze\'ev (Shas) called out, \"You support terrorism, you are an agent of the enemy entity, and you will no longer be able to support the enemy as a Knesset Member.\" Other sharp exchanges involved other Arab MKs and MKs Benny Elon, Tzvi Hendel, Yisrael Katz, and others.
The second bill passed by a very large majority, 77-18, and the other one also passed, 55-36. MK Katz, only minutes before the vote, enumerated to the Knesset the many inciteful statements uttered by Arab MKs in recent months that had made the law necessary. Minister Sheetrit said afterwards, \"The Knesset has put an end to wild incitement… The law does not affect freedom of speech, but merely puts a limit on the freedom of incitement. Democracy has a right to protect itself…\" MK Ahmed Tibi, participating in the Knesset debate on the bill, said, \"You can\'t stop me at the starting line just because my name is Ahmed.\" MK Nissim Ze\'ev (Shas) called out, \"You support terrorism, you are an agent of the enemy entity, and you will no longer be able to support the enemy as a Knesset Member.\" Other sharp exchanges involved other Arab MKs and MKs Benny Elon, Tzvi Hendel, Yisrael Katz, and others.