It seems that a couple of right wing politicians are trying to put forward laws that make it s criminal offence to mark independence day as a day of mourning and to require a pledge of alliegance from everyone who obtains citizenship. I don't like it, even though I wouldn't be too unhappy about the fact the second bill would leave a few ultra-orthodox Jews, and the Netori Carta sect, or cult, without citizenship. Alliegance to the state could mean many things, and to a Jewish state may mean a requirement to uphold certain peculiarities of Judaism that do not fit in with my lifestyle. For example, as a Jewish citizen of the Jewish state, marrying a non-Jew might be considered treason. The first law I mentioned smells like limiting freedonm of expression, and while I certainly don't agree with anyone who considers the creation of the state a disaster, I don't think I can, or should, regulate peoples beliefs with laws. I hold ceratain opinions which in some countries could get me arrested, I don't want to see Israel sliding down that slope. Incitement is another matter. That doesn't come under freedom of speech (you can't shout "fire" in a crowded theater). But we already have laws for that. |