Israeli MPs ban Arab parties from poll
Rory McCarthy, Jerusalem
January 14, 2009
ISRAEL'S Parliament has banned Arab political parties from running in general elections next month, a sign of growing confrontation with the country's Arab minority.

If the ban is upheld by the Supreme Court, then the two Arab parties would be the first to be banned since Rabbi Meir Kahane's Kach party in the 1980s, which advocated expelling Arabs from Israel.

The two parties, Balad and United Arab List-Taal, have seven seats in the 120-seat Knesset.

The decision was proposed by two hardline, right-wing parties and approved by the Israeli Parliament's 37-member Central Election Committee, composed of representatives of all leading parties.

Avigdor Lieberman, who leads one of the parties that proposed the ban and has spoken in favour of "transfer", or the expulsion of Arab citizens from Israel, described Balad as a "terrorist organisation" and said he now wanted it outlawed completely.

The decision comes after days of protest by Arab citizens of Israel — who make up 20 per cent of Israel's population — against the military offensive in Gaza.

The committee accused the Arab parties of incitement, supporting terrorist groups and refusing to recognise Israel's right to exist. There have long been complaints about Arab MPs travelling to Lebanon and Syria, which are technically enemy countries.

Ahmed Tibi, of UAL-Taal, had spoken out publicly against Israel's invasion of Gaza, describing it as "genocide". Mr Tibi said of yesterday's decision: "It was a political trial led by a group of fascists and racists who are willing to see the Knesset without Arabs and want to see the country without Arabs."

In 2007, Balad leader Azmi Bishara was forced to leave the country after a mounting campaign against him and accusations that he had given information to Hezbollah during Israel's war in Lebanon in 2006. No charge was ever laid.

GUARDIAN

http://www.theage.com.au/world/israeli-mps-ban-arab-parties-from-poll-20090113-7g3o.html