'Racist' marriage law upheld by Israel
The Israeli High Court has narrowly voted to uphold a ruling that makes it illegal for Palestinians married to Israelis to live in Israel with their spouses.
The judges voted by six votes to five to renew a citizenship law which outlaws "family unification".
Israel's Chief Justice, Aharon Barak, sided with the minority on the bench, declaring: "This violation of rights is directed against Arab citizens of Israel. As a result, therefore, the law is a violation of the right of Arab citizens in Israel to equality."
He was one of the few voices of reason.
The outgoing judge Michael Cheshin, who voted with the majority, said during a debate in February: "The Palestinian Authority is an enemy government, a government that wants to destroy the state and is not prepared to recognize Israel... Why should we take chances during wartime? Did England and America take chances with Germans seeking their destruction during the Second World War?
The idea that the Palestinian struggle for statehood can be compared to Hitler's desire for world domination shows just how shaky the case is for those who support this racist legislation.
Indeed, in 1980, at the height of apartheid, a South African court refused to approve orders similar to the present Israeli law "because they contradicted the right to a family."
When you find you are behaving more extremely than even the Apartheid regime of South Africa ever dared to, it really is time to step back from the brink.
2 comments:
I wonder where we are in this. I believe there is a supreeme court that usually is much more correct in ternms of human rights. The law is indeed fucked. And just wonder about the rare incident of an Israeli falling in love with a Palestinian / well I guess they really would want to live in San Franciso or somewhere totally egalitarian anyway....
I hope this is not the end of the legal process. Wonder what Meretz the Israeli left wing party and ACRI the civil rights body are going to do about it.
I don't have any figures concerning how many Israelis fall in love with Palestinians, although I imagine it's a tiny number. I think, however, the law relates mainly to Israeli Arabs who fall in love with residents of the West Bank and Gaza.
I understand that Israel has a worry regrading demographics, but it's nevertheless an awful law.
I'd be interested in Meretz's position and ACRI.
If I find anything else I'll either post or update here.
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