Israel Lawlessly Indicts MK Sa'id Naffa:
Offensive And Abusive Tactics To Further Hard-right
Agenda
31 Jan 2012By Stephen Lendman
Israel reveals its rogue credentials daily. In
mid-July 2010, its Knesset stripped MK Hanin Zoabi of
key parliamentary rights and privileges for
participating in the May 2010 Freedom Flotilla
bringing vital aid to Gaza.
Since then, she's been vilified, threatened, and may
be prevented from standing for reelection. Hard-liners
call her a "traitor."
Arab MKs are accustomed to marginalization, threats,
abuse, and lawless actions against them.
In November 2009, Hadash party chairman Mohammed
Barakeh was bogusly indicted for allegedly assaulting
a police officer during an anti-Separation Wall rally.
Previous alleged incidents between 2005 and 2007 were
included in charges against him.
The Adalah Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights said
indicting him criminalized "legitimate political
activities (in an attempt) to harm the reputation and
status of an Arab leader."
Barakeh called charges against him false, saying "The
ones that are being violent and abusing freedom of
demonstration and of speech are the police and
security establishment."
He added that his indictment "reek(ed) of politics.
It's not a personal (attack) but an attempt to
terrorize and deter anyone wishing to exercise his
democratic right to resist government policy."
Balad party MK Said Naffa's also targeted. On December
26, 2011, Israeli Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein
indicted him for "illegally traveling to an enemy
country" and assisting in organizing a visit for
others.
At issue is Israel's 1948 Emergency Regulations
(Foreign Travel) Ordinance. It never should have been
passed in the first place. It's an affront to
democratic rights and should be rescinded.
Other charges included "contact with a foreign agent."
Allegedly it was for meeting with Talal Naji, Popular
Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) deputy
director-general. In addition, Naffa was accused of
planning to meet Khaled Mashal, Hamas political bureau
head. Israel spuriously calls them "terrorist
organization" leaders.
In September 2007, Naffa went to Syria with about 300
Druze clerics and Israeli social activists. It was a
holy pilgrimage, unrelated to politics.
His lawyer, Saud Ghanim said:
"The religious leaders' visit to Syria was purely for
religious and humanitarian reasons. Even the Israeli
Supreme Court regards the Israeli law that prevents
these (type) visits as arbitrary. Therefore, the
filing of an indictment in this regard is
discriminatory, and the real problem is with the law
and not the actual visit."
"We will challenge the constitutionality of this law
before the court. (It) dates back to the emergency
laws in place since the days of military rule and
contradicts modern fundamental constitutional
principles."
In fact, Naffa visited Syria to fulfill his MK duties
as a public representative. Adalah said doing so "lies
within the scope of his parliamentary immunity."
Israel's High Court acknowledged it. Naffa acted
legally and properly.
He noted Israel's double standard. After his trip, an
Israeli Christian delegation visited Syria.
Prosecutions didn't follow. Nor against Jews traveling
to Iraq, other religious trips by Christians and
Circassians, and Muslims going to Saudi Arabia.
Adalah said Naffa's charges "have no legal or
constitutional" basis. Its lawyers unsuccessfully
tried to get charges dropped. They were issued four
years after his visit.
Earlier, Naffa unsuccessfully appealed for Knesset
help. The relevant committee voted 9 - 2 to strip his
immunity and declined to hear supportive legal
testimony.
On January 30, Nazareth's District Court held its
first hearing. Charges against him carry a maximum 15
year sentence. After being indicted, Naffa said he
didn't harm state security. "There is a long court
proceeding before me. I will fight for my innocence
and the matter of immunity will (also) be
discussed...."
"I do not regret the trip and I am no hypocrite. The
issues I am forced to pay the price for were discussed
here for many hours, and very much promoted the
interests and rights."
In response, extremist MK Anastassia Michaeli said
she'd initiate legislation to strip Naffa and others
convicted of similar charges of citizenship
immediately. "Maybe then they would think twice," she
said.
Meretz party MK Ilan Ghilon said he'd "like to see
(Netanyahu) travel in a bus or minibus to Damascus.
Then no one would complain of a violation of the
State's security."
Naffa is Druze. Before the Knesset committee voted, he
addressed members saying:
"Today I am addressing a taboo. The establishment
considers the Druze a trained herd whose place is to
serve in the military and the Border Guard - a herd
that has no feelings."
Former Israeli AG Menachem Mazuz said "Naffa ignored a
decision by the authorized bodies and held a
conspiracy meeting with one of the terrorist
organization heads and tried to meet with another
terrorist organization head, and such things are
exactly what the law aims to prevent."
In fact, Hamas, PFLP, and other lawful resistance
groups want Israel's lawless occupation ended and
Palestine liberated. Their leaders and members aren't
terrorists. They've victims of Israeli state-terrorism
like all Palestinians.
Numerous examples confirm it, including other targeted
Arab MKs. On May 31, 2010, following the Mavi Marmara
massacre, mass demonstrations protested Israel's raid.
MK Taleb al-Sana said it "exposed the ugly face of
Zionism and the violence and aggression of the
government of Israel." He called it an act of "state
terror" against a humanitarian mission and said those
responsible should be tried for war crimes. "This
event proves you don't have to be a German to be a
Nazi," he added.
Al-Sana also participated in a Gaza border
demonstration during which Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh
spoke. In response, Israel's internal security
minister Yitzhak Ahaonovitch asked for charges against
him "for supporting a terror organization."
In February 2010, Islamic Movement northern branch
head Sheikh Raed Saleh was sentenced to nine months
for allegedly assaulting a police officer, a charge he
denied. Like other Arab leaders, he was accused solely
for his political affiliation and positions.
On February 2, 2010, a Haaretz editorial headlined,
"Harassing Arab MKs," saying:
Removing "Said Naffa's parliamentary immunity, like
the decision to prosecute (other Arab MKs), is
unwarranted, harmful and smacks of political
persecution based on nationality."
Naffa's being scapegoated. He's not first Israeli MK
to visit an Arab country, but he was targeted for
doing it. Moreover, MKs rarely lose immunity for
political reasons, unlike those accused of real
criminality like corruption.
Nonetheless, "(i)nstead of calling on Arab lawmakers
to act as a bridge between Israel and the Arab world,
Israel puts them on trial under a law that should
never have been passed in the first place."
Prohibiting MKs from visiting Arab countries not only
impedes their lawful activities serving constituents,
it's also discriminatory by targeting only Arabs, not
Jews.
A Final Comment
On January 20, Britain lawlessly revoked Press TV's
broadcasting license, removing it from the Sky
platform. Fortunately, viewers have options to follow
an invaluable service online or by satellite.
This writer appears often on many topics. Press TV
provides an open platform to speak freely. UK and
American outlets suppress truth. Press TV reveals it.
As a result, it's targeted.
On January 26, political writer/hardline Republican
supporter, and Foundation for Democracy in Iran (an
anti-Iranian front group) executive director Kenneth
Timmerman headlined an article, "Why Doesn't America
Ban Iranian Press TV?" saying:
Obama officials let "the channel operate (in America)
without a license and in violation of US sanctions
regulations, which ban commercial transactions with
Iran."
In fact, viewing it requires doing so online or by
satellite. US and broadcast TV channels exclude it.
Its US presence is through intermediary companies. Its
correspondents report globally.
Timmerman outrageously called it an "anti-American
propaganda" broadcaster. In addition, he attacked
guests like James Fetzer, calling him a
"well-known....conspiracy theorist."
Fetzer appears regularly on the Progressive Radio News
Hour. He's an honored guest. He also founded and
co-chairs Scholars for 9/11 Truth. Vilifying him is
unconscionable.
He also attacked commentator Mark Dankof and Paul
Sheldon Foote for reporting accurately on Israel, as
well as Press TV CEO Mohammad Sarafraz for wanting to
spread anti-American propaganda.
Moreover, he targeted Gamal Hassanein and Samir
Ezeldin for working with Press TV in America, saying:
"(T)hey hire producers and camera crews to film events
and conduct interviews at Press TV's request." By
implication, he suggested wrongdoing.
Gamal arranges this writer's Press TV appearances. He
said Timmerman revealed his address and other personal
information to vilify him and make him vulnerable to
abuse.
Extremists like Timmerman use offensive and abusive
tactics to further their hard-right agenda. In
contrast, Press TV is an effective antidote. As a
result, it's spuriously vilified and excluded from US
broadcast and cable channels.
Ignore Timmerman and others like him. Follow Press TV
daily for real information and analysis to stay
current and well informed - free from Western
propaganda and hatemongers like Timmerman.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be
reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. Also visit
his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to
cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on
the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive
Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and
Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are
archived for easy listening.
http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/.
©
EsinIslam.Com
Add Comments