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National Union MK Arieh Eldad: "Jews do not evacuate Jews in Israel."
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| By israelinsider staff and partners April 28, 2005 |
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| Thousands of opponents to Israel's planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip marched along a road at the Gush Katif bloc of settlements yesterday (AP) |
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"I want to see civil disobedience, in which every government official who receives a [disengagement-related] document tears it up and says 'I won't be a cog in the demolition machine that is coming to expel Jews from their homes,'" National Union MK Arieh Eldad called to the crowd of protestors at yesterday's rally against the "disengagement" in Gaza. "Jews do not evacuate Jews in Israel. The days are nearing, my brothers, the days are nearing in which those who do not go to jail will bear a mark of disgrace."
These are just a few of the words in a speech delivered by the MK that sparked an all-out fiery political debate.
Eldad also said during the rally that if Gush Katif is closed off, the entire country will be blocked off and brought to a standstill.
Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin slammed Eldad for the remarks, saying he viewed them as grave. "Even if we are speaking of a call for passive disobedience, this is a rejection of the authority of decisions of the Knesset and the government."
"Anyone who incites during these sensitive times should be put on trial to prevent the next political assassination," said MK Matan Vilnai (Labor) in response to Eldad's speech. Vilnai also said Attorney General Menachem Mazuz must demand Eldad be tried for his comments. "I suggest he forego his parliamentary immunity and be prepared to deal with this in a court of law, just as he advised his comrades to do."
MK Eitan Cabel also called on Mazuz to intervene. "It is fitting that the attorney general would examine the legal aspects of the remarks made by Eldad, who is none other than the Knesset Ethics Committee chairman," he said. "I call on him to resign from his post in light of the comments he made."
MK Roman Bronfman (Yachad) said, "With his dangerous and irresponsible remark Eldad is single-handedly bringing about a civil war. Public figures are obligated to call for restraint, especially with regard to such sensitive issues."
Fellow Yachad MK Ran Cohen called Eldad's call "atrocious," and demanded that Eldad be dropped as chair of the Knesset Ethics Committee. Cohen said Eldad's speech showed that Eldad and others of the right, when confronting a government decision they opposed, were prepared to call for civil disobedience, "When they know that this could end in bloodshed of Israelis, soldiers and police."
Yachad party chair Yossi Beilin said, "MK Eldad today crossed the red line and lost all moral basis to serve as a member of Knesset and especially as the chair of the Knesset Ethics Committee."
Condemnations regarding Eldad's remarks did not come solely from the left.
Knesset Member Ehud Yatom (Likud) said, "Any call for civil disobedience and disobeying of the law increases the danger for violence among Jews, which would result in a greater tragedy than the disengagement itself."
Eldad himself declined requests to comment on his critics' responses. But MK Effi Eitam (Religious Zionism), who also addressed the rally, said the criticism was another in a series of steps taken to silence critics of the disengagement.
Another rally, scheduled for today in the settlement of Homesh in the northern West Bank is also expected to draw tens of thousands of demonstrators.
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