Comments (0)Lawmakers Debate Nakba Bill
November 1, 2009Jerusalem
JTA Wire Service
Arab and right-wing Israeli lawmakers debated a bill that would revoke government funding for institutions that mark the Nakba.
The measure, sponsored by Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu party, is a variation of the proposed Nakba law that would have made illegal the observance of Israel Independence Day as a day of mourning.
The Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee discussed the bill Monday.
Arab lawmaker Ahmad Tibi compared the law to George Orwell’s Big Brother in the book “1984.” Yisrael Beiteinu lawmaker David Rotem accused the Arab lawmakers of not being “loyal” to the State of Israel.
Sect Leader Arrives for Interrogation in Israel
The spiritual leader of a religious sect accused of child abuse was extradited to Israel.
Elior Chen, 29, was taken directly to a Jerusalem police station for interrogation Wednesday after landing in Israel from Brazil.
Chen allegedly urged his followers to abuse their children, including beatings, forcing them to eat feces and pouring household cleaners into open wounds to “correct their corrupt souls.”
His alleged abuse of one woman’s children led to two of them, then aged 4 and 5, being hospitalized in March 2008 in critical condition and another, then 3, remaining in a persistent vegetative state. Their mother, who accepted a plea bargain in exchange for her testimony, faces five years in prison.
Chen was arrested in June 2008 in Sao Paulo. He fought extradition in a number of Brazilian courts, including the Supreme Court. His appeal to the high court was rejected in May.
Chen is scheduled to appear Thursday in a Jerusalem court.
Racy Refaeli Billboards Replaced Following Complaints
A billboard showing model Bar Refaeli wearing only a blanket was replaced with a more modest photo.
The Fox clothing company on Monday changed two giant billboards along a major Tel Aviv highway following complaints from the fervently Orthodox community.
The billboards had featured the scantily clad Israeli supermodel on a bed with Israeli “Survivor” star Noam Tor. They were exchanged for photos of the couple in winter clothing.
Some fervently Orthodox groups had threatened to boycott the popular clothing chain.
This story reprinted courtesy of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.