Israeli Culture and Sports Minister (and former Brigadier General) Miri Regev has a curious view of democracy. Regev is the author of a “cultural loyalty” bill that would allow fines or withdrawing support for any institution for a host of free speech violations, including “the denial of Israel’s democratic nature.” Thus, the bill would allow Israel to punish those who challenge its commitment to democracy so that Israel can show that it is a democracy. Follow? Let’s try again. If someone denies Israel is a true democracy, they will be punished of using their free speech to criticize the government. Well, the important thing is that it all makes sense to Regev. It is taken from the same oxymoronic lesson book as “the beatings will continue until morale improves” or “destroying a village to save it.”
Regev was long the spokeswoman for the Israeli Defense Forces. She has long been a menace to free speech and artists. When the al-Midan theater wanted to put on the play “A Parallel Time” (about Walid Daka, who planned the murder of IDF soldier Moshe Tamam in 1984), Regev froze state funding for the al-Midan theater where the play was being performed.
Now she wants more power to police free speech and artistic expression.
Article 3a currently places this power with the Finance Minister but Regev wants the power to punish free speech in the Ministry of Culture because “it is the Ministry of Culture’s responsibility to supervise cultural institutions, including what they offer, and make sure they are not breaking the country’s laws.” While many would question the need for any cultural ministry (culture tends to evolve on its own), Regev made clear that being a democracy does not mean enjoying democratic freedoms and culture must meet a government test for acceptability: “Cultural institutions are not above the law. They must work according to the laws of the State of Israel and we must make sure of this – and not keep our eyes closed.”
Regev’s career was helped by staunchly anti-immigration rhetoric like in 2012 when she called illegal Sudanese immigrants “a cancer in our body.”
This is nothing new for Israelis who are a colonizing force of the extreme right now. This is simply the logical extension of their policies and contempt for democracy. They showed in 1967 their contempt for the US military when they tried to sink the USS Liberty for listening to their electronic transmissions. It was a blatant attack on the US Navy and killed 33 US sailors, and nothing happened as a result. This should be a part of any discussion of US Israeli relations since it shows their true views and intention. Too bad the GOP likes to be abused like this and will not bother to denounce this kind of thing and will simply go along with anything Israel does for their religious nut supporters.
This blog is replete with contributors that will denounce the perceived abuses of government committed by the “other” party and completely ignore the fact both parties play the same game. This is not the result of a government that considers itself limited by the constitution as much as it is hindered by the constitution. This is progressivism at its core. If government were a track event with hurdles the constitutionalist would stay in the lane and clear the hurdle while the progressive would run around it. I would ask the progressives; does the constitution matter (means) or is it all about the ends?
Olly–apparently.
Regev’s exercise of power and trampling of free speech rights should not shock anyone that has been paying attention to the erosion of rights here in the United States. She would fit quite nicely in any regime that believes “Democracy” only means the people have the right to vote, not to criticize. The progressives have done a terrific job of convincing the people the purpose for government is not some old-timey declaration “That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,” This is why elections have consequences. Again, we cannot have it both ways. A house divided cannot stand. Are we a constitutional republic in name only?
Further erosion of free speech around the world. Regev is utterly and completely wrong. Free speech here in America was developed to protect unsanctioned speech most of all, to prevent a Government control of narrative.
We should guard our own First Amendment rights vigorously, and firmly negate Hillary Clinton’s efforts at imposing blasphemy laws here, PC, and any other challenge.
Bam Bam – I disagree with you on that one. Leonard has the right to say whatever he likes. He can paint in his jail cell or rec room and his supporters can distribute it. Taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize a free art show for a cop killer. Free speech does not mean subsidized hobbies or that we have to help him make money off of artistic expression. The art of criminals could be a thought provoking topic in a university or art show. I recall one on a German propagandist who was also a very talented photographer. It engendered all sorts of intellectual debate on separating art from artist. That’s fine when it’s privately funded or an academic exercise. But taxpayers should not pay for it or subsidize it in a government building.
No one is shutting Leonard up. We just don’t want to help him make money or fame off of our dime. Let his supporters do that. And complaining about such a lapse in judgement is what free speech is all about. Criticizing authority.
I’m a fiscal conservative, so I am always complaining about wasting money. Giving a convicted killer a free art show seems like a big waste of money, time, and space to me.
Again, the existence of any printed word in the West about Israel proves my point. Israel’s sum total significance to the West is zero, nothing (same as Syria, BTW). Yet every little incident in Israel, the MSM converts from a molehill to a mountain.
Why? Well, the entire “Israel means something” meme comes down to one thought, one belief, and that is called the (alleged) “holocaust.” Every single time, in any debate or argument about the significance of this dirt hole AKA Israel and its unholy inhabitants, the bottom line is if you don’t support Israel, you are reincarnation of Jewish-supported Adolf Hitler, desiring to wipe off the globe all Jewery.
In Re. to the article posted above: An Israeli so-called “Jew” assassinated fellow Israeli so-called “Jew” President Menachem Begin. Among Israeli commons, the assassin in known and revered as the Western equivalent of Israel’s highest Saint. If Israel could get away with it, and one day soon they might, they will spend tax payer (even US donations) dollars to erect Israel’s largest statue in his likeness, made of bronze, or even more costly metal.
Begin’s crime against Israeli humanity: his desire for and signed pacts encouraging peace in the Middle East.
Note to self: encourage peace, and discourage expenditure of tax dollars for war machines at risk of life.
I don’t revel if/when Israel is nuked, in spite of the fact that Israeli leaders appear to hasten such day. I do want nothing more for Israel than for Israel and Arab-supported Palestine to fight to the death (with the USSA being absolutely neutral), the sooner the better. Why? Because suggesting ME peace with both “States” in such close proximity is a fool, a liar, or both.
Texan So. Baptist Conference types are quite gung ho for Israel. Why not move Israel to Texas or some other land where they are more loved and preferred to spread their race hatred (Talmud: “Even the best of the goyim deserve only death.”)
One of the most oxymoronic terms extant is “middle east peace process.” Akin to a vegetarian restaurant for lions.
There’s no democracy if a large percent of people who live there are not allowed to vote.
Not very democratic of her passing a law against discussion
She must be a pal of Erdogan.
Instead of fining them can we instead recognize them for the fools they are?
Politics is the same everywhere: whoring yourself out for the vote of the lowest common denominator.
Truth, making sensing, integrity – you can’t get elected practicing any of those.
bam bam
Darren expressed his opinion as a private citizen – the essence of the First Amendment.
Ms. Regev is using the state power to limit free speech.
Big difference; not a difficult concept to grasp.
An authoritarian, free speech punishing democracy, but a democracy nonetheless. After all, you can vote for the authoritarian who will punish you for saying what you think. Remarkably, in comparison to the beheading, lashing, thought controlling, despotic, theocratic regimes that surround it, Israel is still a beacon on democracy…..
Which is the “other Democracy in the middle east”?
A moron can ride an ox. But an ox cannot ride a moron.
Israel is in danger of being nuked. There are many in the so called “West” who will be content with that. There are many who fail to look at a map and see the size of the area set aside for the muslims and that set aside for jews. Jews cannot live in Egypt or Saudi Arabia. So called Palestinians are muslims who once had Jordan as their master until Jordan invaded Israel in the six day war. War is hell. Win some and lose some. The West Bank is strategic and Israel cannot give it up. The Jordanians could go across to the East Side and be Jordanians and quit the Palestinian BS. It is not right to call a muslim a “friggin muslim”. It is oxymoronic. Being a “muslim” used to have something to do with a religion. Now it has to do with being a terrorist. Keep the faith. All of you who have “faith” need also to have brains for Monday through Saturday. Praise the Lard on Sunday and turn to Crisco on Monday. Sail on.
It’s interesting to note that Darren wrote an article, not too long ago, about the artwork of a convicted cop killer being displayed in the rotunda of a federal building. Remember that one, folks? Remember how he proceeded to criticize those in charge of the government facility for allowing federal property and/or government funding to support or promote the work of a murderer–namely, a convicted murderer, who gunned down police officers, in cold blood. If I recall correctly, he even went so far as to write the officials, in charge of the facility, a letter expressing his dismay and criticism of said art display, which, allegedly, may have contributed, in part, to its removal. Remember that whole brouhaha about the government not serving as a facilitator or a promoter of a convicted cop killer’s artwork, even if that alleged support was merely in the form of supplying space in which to display said artwork?
Well, now, we have Israel, where this Minister of Culture is being condemned for doing exactly what was proudly touted as exemplary earlier on this blog. Granted, it is a different form of art, as this is a play, but this Minister of Culture is simply using her authority and her voice to refuse GOVERNMENT funding for a theater sponsoring a play which, I can only assume, supports or promotes the life and the deeds of a convicted murderer–a murderer who killed one of Israel’s brave soldiers. So glad to see how consistent JT is in his criticism regarding government funding and/or promotion of that which elevates and promotes the worst elements in our respective societies, namely, cop killers and murderers of soldiers. I don’t recall a single word of criticism with regard to forcing one of our federal agencies to remove the cop killer’s artwork display from one of its buildings, but let an Israeli Minister of Culture act to cut off her government’s funding for a theater serving as a place to promote the life and deeds of a convicted murderer of an Israeli soldier, and it’s an entirely different ballgame.
“Right to exist” my behind! As if any nation has a “right to exist,” including the USSA.
And it’s against the law for any Palestinian race person to become an Israeli citizen.
The west being married to Israel is the first and primary reason that Islam wars against the west. Duh! .
Never before has any nation been so totally and absolutely irrelevant to the USA, and carried so much sway in the USA’s workings and public life.
I wish that Barry Soweto would release the NSA audio tapes of conversations between Netenyahu and the Congresscritters.. .
Falling out of my chair in laughter Professor Turley….good one….and remember this: The Israeli PM is trying to tell the World they’re the only Democracy in the Middle East…..
And this woman looks like such a NICE person!
In other words Israel has no commitment to democracy… We get it..