Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Rightist who called Bassi 'Judenrat' stands trial [Free Speech in Israel Only For Arabs & Left]
YNet ^ | June 14, 2006 | Efrat Weiss

Posted on 06/14/2006 12:39:17 PM PDT by Alouette

Right-wing activist, currently standing trial for insulting public servant, refuses to apologize for calling Disengagement Authority director 'a Judenrat'

Nadia Matar, chairman of the right-wing movement "Women in Green" who is standing trial for calling the outgoing Disengagement Authority Chairman Yonatan Bassi "a Judenrat" refuses to apologize.

"We can't be intimidated, we can't be silenced. I don't take back any word I wrote to Yonatan Bassi, on the contrary – only now we're witnessing how much grief this man, along with other expulsion criminals, has caused the Israeli people, especially to our expelled brethren," Matar said.

Matar, whose trial opened on Wednesday, is charged with insulting a public servant.

"With everything that is happening to Sderot and to all Israelis, the word 'Judenrat' is even too mild," Matar stated upon entering the Magistrate Court in Jerusalem. "No one has come up with the right word to describe the monstrosity of Jews who inflict so much damage on other Jews. Words like kapo, traitor, or collaborator are also too mild."

'Judenrat too mild for Bassi'

In a fax sent to Bassi last September, Matar wrote:" All your statements will not help you, Yonatan, the truth is that you are a modern version of the Judenrat, or actually - a worse version, because back in the Holocaust, those Jewish leaders were forced by Nazis to do what they did, and it's very difficult for us to judge them today. Today no one is pointing a gun to your head and forcing you to cooperate".

The letter, first published by Ynet, stirred controversy and anger across the political spectrum, eventually leading to Matar's trial.

Some 100 right-wing activists protested outside the court Wednesday carrying signs with Bassi's photo reading: "Transfer Authority Director", "Limitation on Incitement", and "Mazuz, where is the freedom of speech?"

Noble Prize laureate Prof. Yuval Ne'eman also arrived at the place to "support Nadia, who is being persecuted for her expressing her views".

Aumann: Freedom of speech oppressed

"I read the letter, I would not have written such a letter, it's harsh and in bad taste, but between that and being a criminal, democracy puts a much bigger gap," said Noble Prize laureate Prof. Yisrael Aumann, who only yesterday praised the soldier Hananel Dayan for his refusal to shake hands with IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz due to his opposition to the disengagement.

"It is scandalous. Freedom of speech is oppressed, just like in the cases of the soldier Hananel, the closing of channel 7, and the hearing that was held for Rabbi Druckman. This is singling out individuals who express their views," said Prof. Aumann.

Matar's attorney, Yoram Sheftel, claimed that "the State Prosecution is becoming a pillar of the Leftist camp. There must be a public reaction for this selection exercised by the Prosecution in putting people on trial for their political views."

The judge in the trial, David Mintz, was also skeptic about the case's validity, and suggested that the indictment may need to be revoked. The Prosecution, on its part, said it would consider the Judge's proposal and return an answer soon.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; Israel; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: freespeech; israel; judenrat; kapo; nadiamatar; womeningreen
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-34 last
To: Alouette

I cannot honestly see a parallel between Ann Coulter and Caroline Glick. Caroline is clear in her views but does not engage in the harsh language, personal vindictive and shock value that Coulter does. Don't get me wrong I enjoy Ann Coulter but Caroline Glick is much more measured and cerebral in her analysis.


21 posted on 06/14/2006 5:39:13 PM PDT by Honestfreedom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Honestfreedom
Maybe there is more of a parallel between Ann Coulter and Debbie Schlussel but Debbie is not Israeli.
22 posted on 06/14/2006 5:43:48 PM PDT by Alouette (Psalms of the Day: 88-89)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: Alouette

Does Israel have a written constitution in which free speech is protected? If so, how can (orally) insulting a public official be a criminal offense?


23 posted on 06/14/2006 6:11:57 PM PDT by justiceseeker93
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Alouette

Yes Debbie is much more outspoken and built more for the media blitz type world. Debbie is an orthodox Jew as far as I know and very impressive in her accomplishments (I guess Coulter is also in that she went to Yale) as a lawyer and top athlete.


24 posted on 06/14/2006 7:56:54 PM PDT by Honestfreedom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Honestfreedom

I guess that you could call Debbie the Jewish Ann Coulter, except that Debbie is very petite, much shorter than tall Ann.


25 posted on 06/14/2006 7:59:04 PM PDT by Alouette (Psalms of the Day: 88-89)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Alouette

not as foul mouthed either.


26 posted on 06/14/2006 8:50:28 PM PDT by Honestfreedom
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Alouette

Why can't you insult a public servant? Shouldn't this fall under Israel's basic law, a right to free speech.

Don't Knesset members call each other worse names?


27 posted on 06/14/2006 8:52:29 PM PDT by monkeyshine
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Thinkin' Gal; Sabramerican

I'm wondering when the residents of Sderot might start launching home-made rockets of their own into Gaza.

FWIW, we'll see about this disengagement. Every day that passes I am less and less sure it's a good idea. Could be Olmert is making a lot of noise to test European sentiment and rile the Palestinians. If the Europeans "go for it" then the Palestinians & Arabs may poop a brick, calling the whole thing into question by their reaction.

But Olmert probably isn't that sly.


28 posted on 06/14/2006 8:57:12 PM PDT by monkeyshine
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Alouette
The Women in Green are a women's conservative group. They were founded in reaction to the Left's Women In Black. Nadia Matar called Yonathan Bassi a Jundenrat. The point is in post-survivalist Israel, free speech is only for the Arabs and the Left. Pro-Israel speech is automatically singled out for suppression. You may not agree with Matar's views but in a free society, she shouldn't be on trial for expressing an unpopular opinion. Besides, if the civil servant in question was defamed, there are libel and slander laws to address that issue. The state shouldn't be doing his dirty work for him in court. Free Nadia Matar!

(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")

29 posted on 06/14/2006 9:04:10 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Alouette
And lost in the persecution of Matar is her larger point: the Jews who collaborated with the Germans had a gun pointed to their heads. What's Bassi's excuse for expelling Jews from their homes and rendering the Land Of Israel Judenrein? Back then it could be said Jews who aided the Nazi enemy had no choice. No such dilemma confronts Jews in Israel who are bent on appeasing Israel's enemies with the lives and existence of their own nation.

(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")

30 posted on 06/14/2006 9:11:12 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Thinkin' Gal
Olmert wants to hand over much of Judea and Samaria to Gaza to Hamas. That is madness. Yes, let's admit Israel cannot win the war that Israel has to be frightened of even defending her 4,000 year old claim to the Land Of Israel. If Jews do not stand up for their own rights, they should not expect the world to come to their rescue in their hour of need.

(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")

31 posted on 06/14/2006 9:14:31 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: justiceseeker93
Israel has built a constitution in stages. But the laws do not protect political rights to the same extent as in America and the Israeli Left, which dominates the judiciary, has used its monopoly of control over the courts and the media to squash any non-Leftist alternatives to Israel's future. Here in America the Left lost its monopoly; in Israel that monopoly remains as complete as ever.

(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")

32 posted on 06/14/2006 9:33:54 PM PDT by goldstategop (In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives On In My Heart Forever)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: Thinkin' Gal

When was that ?


33 posted on 06/15/2006 5:06:20 PM PDT by Grzegorz 246
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Alouette

Jurassic Park is melting in the dark...


34 posted on 06/15/2006 5:28:49 PM PDT by Old Professer (The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, and writes again.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-34 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson