הכסף הזר שמגן על חנין זועבי ופעל גם בעבר למנוע את פסילתם של בשארה וטיבי בבג''ץ  

NIF Applauds Israeli Supreme Court Decision as Defense of Israeli Democracy

NIF Played Key Role in Making Public Case Against Decision by Central Election Committee to Disqualify Arab Members of Knesset from Running for Re-Election.

(Washington, DC) - January 9, 2003 - The New Israel Fund today hailed the decision by Israel's Supreme Court to allow two Arab-Israeli members of Knesset and a political party to participate in the upcoming national election. The Court's decision scored a major victory for Israeli democracy in reversing the Elections Committee and permitting the MKs to run in this month's elections.

Last week's decision by the Central Election Committee to disqualify Members of Knesset Ahmed Tibi and Asmi Bishara came in opposition to the legal judgment of its chairman, Supreme Court Justice Mishael Cheshin, and appeared to be made on purely political grounds. The New Israel Fund and other Israeli civil rights organizations protested that decision as a grave threat to Israeli democracy in news conferences and a mass demonstration in Jerusalem this week.

"The decision today by the Supreme Court is an affirmation of the democratic principles that are the core strength of Israel's democracy," said Peter Edelman, President of the New Israel Fund. "The decision today upholds a bedrock principle that underlies democracy - the right of all citizens to stand for election, the right of minorities to political representation, and the supremacy of the rule of law. At the same time, all who love Israel's democracy must be concerned that it continues to be necessary to call on the Supreme Court to be the last line of defense for such critical democratic values.

In Israel, the New Israel Fund together with several other leading civil rights organizations held a press conference last week to denounce the decision and participated in a major demonstration on Tuesday before the Supreme Court's consideration of the appeal of the CEC's decision. Groups funded by the New Israel Fund argued the decision before the Supreme Court and have taken the lead publicly in making the case against the CEC's decision.

The CEC's decision was the latest in a series of actions and proposals relating to the status of the Arab minority in Israel that threaten to undermine the delicate relationship between Jewish and Arab citizens of Israel. Strict adherence to democratic principles and a steadfast respect for the rights of the minority are critical to ensuring the long-run strength and security of the Israeli state.