Arabs have killed over 1500 Jews and maimed triple that since the Oslo accord and they claim that banning anti-Israeli parties is widening a schism? Any normal human (not the dense Sabras) would consider this a war! Apartheid is the treatment of Jews in arab countries. Racism is the arab need to destroy all Jews from Israel, that is their only stated goal!!!!

All righty then.

Tibi & Co would be arrested long before now in any Arab country. In most be would have been tried sentenced & eith executed or in prison by now. Can anyone seriously deny this. Tibi is biased & anti-Israel & so are many of his allies. But also he is a politician so how much of this is pandering to what he thinks is his constiuency for votes. But what he & his ilk do is to stab Israeli soldiers Jewish, Muslim (yes they also fight for Israel) & Christian in the back. Tibi & Co sow the seeds of self doubt in the minds of Israeli soldiers that may result in Israelis being killed & wounded. That is why he & his type MUST GO. There must be Arab politicians of a better type than them. Ones who may oppose Israeli actions but at the same time understand how to oppose them without endangering Israeli soldiers, civilians or Israels existance.

PLEASE Gentleman: Create political parties that look for you ISRAELI interests...Your families, your children. STOP aligning yourselves with ...whatever you believe is your rights -outside the STATE were you make the living from- LOOK AT OTHER COUNTRIES HOW THEY BUILD RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN RELIGIONS, FAITHS, SOCIAL BELIEVES, YOU NAME WE HAVE GOT IT !... FIRST OF ALL WE ARE CANADIANS HERE... NO MATTER WHERE WE CAME FROM... OUT ALLIANCE IS WITH THIS GREAT COUNTRY OF OURS. FIRST OF ALL!

I can say with authority that any alien who wishes to become a citizen of the United States will be denied citizenship if he advocates the overthrow of the USA-why should it be any different in Israel?

We know who the real racists are and how they use their religion as a weapon of mass genocide against non-moslems world wide.

run for office, it would be racist. As it is, Arabs can run for office in parties that do not advocate nor engage in treason against the state. This is just common sense in any country except Muslim extremist countries which ban a person from BEING just because he/she is of a different religion ... to wit: Saudi Arabia. Calling for a day of mourning because the country you supposedly serve became once again an international recognized entity is treason. Fomenting self-destruction for the country you live in, is treason. Establishing contact with heads of enemy states and terrorist groups that want to destroy the country you supposedly serve is treason ... and if you don't serve the state ... then you don't need to run for office. You need to run out of the country that you obviously dislike before they get you for treason. These idiots need to go to jail!

the existance of such group only shows that Israel is a nation of democracy. it is better that they do not participate in the Israeli government and let that show the true Israeli nation of Zionists.. no democracy exist in Israel and this nation will not last long.... for my Arab political parties in Israel, please leave this government and show the real true picture about this israeli nation. ....

Anti-semitism is racist number one and the whole Arab world has been and are still guilty. In how many Arab nations do you have Jewish parties in the parliament?

Ah, the inevitable, and popular, retreat position of the sour. Anyone else out there bloody tired of hearing that knee-jerk resonse being thrown out, nonstop, around the world? Enough with that foolish crap!

Israel is a JEWISH state and should only ever be represented by JEWS. As soon as any country allows arabs/moslems into any seat of power they infect democratic and civil liberties with their crude backward thinking way of life. Israel is JEWISH and shall always remain JEWISH CONTROLLED AS IT SHOULD BE.

For most Arabs, only a look at his wife would outrage him. Anything they don't agree with is outrageous to them. They have no sense of measure and they reject whatever they disapprove (or don't understand). I am not a Jew, but I am an Israeli for 14 years now. I have accepted the State of Israel as Jewish and even support this notion. I agree that Jews deserve a state of their own where they can live in accordance to Jewish laws and rules. I am probably more zionist than most in Tel-Aviv and if I were to join politics, I would work to strengthen the Jewish caracter of this beautiful young state (even though, again, I am not Jewish). Arabs should accept the FULL Jewishness of Israel and create a political party that would help them assimilate and prosper without trying to change the fundamentals of Israel. Israel was created FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF HAVING A COUNTRY FOR JEWS. That is what the enlighted nations decided back in 1948. It's about time all Arabs would accept the fact that Israel is Jewish and Jews are Israel. Non-Jews are tolerated here and I am thankful to Israel for accepting me and tolerating me as I am (non-Jew). Now it's up to me to reciprocate and accept Israel AS IT IS (the only JEWISH state on earth). There are so many christian and muslim states on this planet, if you can't accept living in the Jewish state, follow Livni's advice and find your national aspirations somewhere else. Nobody is forcing anyone to stay. So stop crying and be fair, at least with yourselves.

Without knowing more detail (suchas did the parties advocate racism or sedition, such as the Kahane party did?), the only honest, ethical conclusion this US Jew can find is that yes, this was a discriminatory move by the Israeli elections board and should be overturned with an apology. Many of us have spent endless hours and effort explaining to critics that the State of Israel is, in fact a democratic republic and one that, in some ways, is more democratic than the UK, US, India, and other modern democracies. One of the elements of this respectable democracy to which we point is the presence and inclusion of diverse parties in the Knesset, in number directly proportionate to the numbers of popular votes they receive -- and that these parties include specifically Arab ones. Why were these parties removed fromthe ballots? Why is Israel not trusting the mechanisms of its own legitimate democratic process, and its people, in voting into office representatives who will do well by the citizens and nation as a whole? What are they so afraid of? Here in the US, which might be less democratic in that national elections, or at least the presidential election, is not determined directly by the popular vote (see Geo. W. Bush!), here in the US even a self-identified racist and anti-semite such as David Duke (former head of the Ku Klux Klan, arguably a domestic terrorist organization) has been allowed to run for office. Thank G-d and the wisdom of the people in his state, he lost. Why are you not trusting G-d and/or Israeli citizens to make wise choices? And why would you think that the needs and perspectives of strongly Arab-identified Israeli citizens would, without question, be adequately represented by other parties -- parties they don't seem to identify with? Unless the parties pose some grave threat to national security - and that claim would be closely scrutinized - even this very pro-Israel supporter/advocacte will have to retrace his steps and retract strong, articulate assertions attesting to Israel's genuine and legitimate and respectable democratic nature. Elections commissioners: please consider if you actions may be doing much more harm than good in both the short and long term.

they are free to leave and go to Jordan or Syria or Lebanon or Egypt, or Yemen or Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait UAE,Libya, Morocco Pakistan etc. I am sure they will be welcomed with open arms and will be properly represented in those countries (NOT) No one forces them to live here they can leave any time they want to(on the condition that they don't return) We will not stop them we will not hinder them nor be sad if they leave

"In how many Arab nations do you have Jewish parties in parliament?" I'm not sure of the number, nor your definition of "Arab nations" but I believe Morrocco does, or at least has Jews appointed to quite high levels in government, and I believe the Ambassador from... is it Bahrain(?) is a Jewish woman. And, considering that here in the U.S. one of the Israeli Deupty Consuls is a fine Bedouin gentleman whose support of Israel as a democratic Jewish state is unflailing, I don't know where you get off with your blanket stereotypes of Israeli Arabs! Shame on you -- you are doing to Israeli Arabs, such as Bedouin and Druze, what the French did to Dreyfus and many other of us Jews. And, by the way, I also have a sizable number of Arab acquaintances who, while they may not support ongoing Jewish settlement of Judea/Samaria, do in fact support the legitimacy of the democratic Jewish State of Israel within the green line. I don't think that support would last if parties representing Arab Israelis are banned, unless, perhaps, it can be opnely proved, in a trial, that they were seditionist. So, before you let your rage and pain get the better of you, take a moment to pray or meditate or count to ten or whatever calms and grounds you, and carefully consider the best, most ethical way for Israel to continue its proud democratic traditions and values. (and don't say I know nothing b/c from USA; been there, have family and friends and collegues there.)

In the UK, MPs have to swear an oth of allegiance to Her Majesty The Queen. So when IRA members were elected to Parliament some years ago, they refused to take the oath, so could not take their seats. All you have to do in Israel is insist that MKs take an oath of allegiance & loyalty to the State of Israel & if the MKs representing these rejectionist parties refuse to do so, then they can't take their Knesset seats. This is a subtler solution. Not that i'm comparing IRA terrorists with Arab terrorists. The former only sought to throw the British out of Northern Ireland, not to destroy the British state.

I agree 100% that Israel should remain a Jewish state or, perhaps we should say one that is predominantly Jewish and whose laws and broader society is hevily, but not entirely, informed by Jewish laws and culture(s) - in all of the diversity even that represents. However, the reality is that Israelis are not only Jewish (and certainly not only part of the Orthodox or aethiest hegemonies). Israel is enriched by her diversity - economically, culturally, politically, spiritually, just as other non-Jewish countries are by their own minority groups (such as our own Jewish communities in US, UK, France, Italy, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Morrocco, Uganda, Mexico, Hong Kong, etc., etc.). For years Jews have asserted (and proven) that giving us a say in the politics of our countries of origin, and even holding high office there, will not weaken or otherwise threaten the integrity of that nation. Despite your own ugly prejudice and its stereotypes, the same might be true for Israel and its Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, etc. citizens. Just because they are not Jewish does not mean they don't support the vitality of Israel as a (predominently) Jewish state. In fact, some of them may very well prefer to live as a minority in (mostly) Jewish and democratic Israel than as either minorities or, even, majorities in non-Jewish and, especially, undemocratic states. *If * Israel remains a democracy for them , too. After all, plenty of diaspora Jews prefer living as members of a minority group in the various countries in which they live than living as members of the majority in Israel (maybe in part because of anti-democratic sentiments and policies that you advance?). Sometimes it's kind of cool being in the minority, and despite your understandable paranoia, not every Arab Israeli wants to live in an all-Arab state or under Shari'a. Israel can stay Jewish and still avail itself of the important, worthy contributions of all of its citizens. (Of course, again, any citizen or group, Jewish, Arab, or otherwise, advocating dissolution or overthrow of the governement of the State of Israel should be addressed appropriately; so I hope you would also strongly argue against some of the ultra-orthodox in Israel, who also don't support the legitimacy of the State or its government and who refuse, even to serve in the military - letting other Jews die for their safety while at the same time denouncing the legitimacy of the State of Israel. Would you let these folks, who are Jews after all, have parties on the ballot and be able to hold seats in Knesset??

Please,Israel,don´t listen to arabs anymore.Cousins,cousins...I know. If they like the way a Jewish state must be,ok,if not,please,the way out of the door is open. It is enough.Enough of suffering,enough of these disagreements.Israel is for Jews.If they adapt ,good,if not,again,get out!

why should parties that don't accept the legitimacy of the state be allowed to participate in the political process.

"The parties disqualified yesterday just wanted to represent the sector and bridge the gap between Jews and Arabs." Really?? Where were the parties then when they could have acted as a bridge but instead led anti-Israel protests in the streets and calling themselves "Palestinians"?? Where were they when the topic of National Service came up and they supported the platform that NO Arab will do anything to help the State, especially National Service?? It's typical to hear Arabs cry death to Jews then act like all they wanted was peace and co-existence when they lose their privileges. Sorry guys - to be in govt of a State, one must support the State not destroy it.

To Bernie, from a Jewish American Zionist: Did you leave the U.S.A. to Israel (or wherever you are) because you felt you were not being represented in the States? Do you think that is the best and only answer for other Diaspora Jews -- that if we experience prejudice or discrimination, despite even having laws prohibiting discrimination to which we may turn for redress, that we should throw in the towel, leave our homes, families, friends, jobs, and everything else we know and love about where we live, and where we may have lived for 100 or 200 or 500 years, and pack it over to Israel? It's a-okay with you for the U.S. and every other nation-state in the world to tell Jews "Love it or leave it; if you don't love it, deport yourself to Israel!"?? This is, in effect, what you are advocating for gentiles in Israel, and it is a dangerous (and offensive) policy/practice to advance, indeed. Careful what you throw into the air; it may fall back on you. Tell you what, I won't let what you probably see as my naivite from clouding my (actually reasonably-well-informed) judgement, if you will stop your pain and xenophobia from clouding yours.

The Arabs, and the state can't have it both ways. Moreover, Kach was never accused of being a 5th column or traitors

Bernie is right and you are wrong. You are driven by a fearfull and self humiliating thought. Israel respects non jews-read #12. What Israel must not stand with is with enemies inside.It is very simple.

when their disgusting, anti-Israel, anti-Jewish, treasonous leaders comfort our enemies, and try to tell us this isn't a Jewish state! Now they realize how much freedom they have under JEWISH rule, but that freedom has to come with loyalty to the Jewish State of Israel. Otherwise they can leave.

so why are you not denying all of the Heradim the ability to participate in the political process? To the extent that they don't participate, it is pruely their own decision, not the State blocking them frm doing so. And those who do participate become something aling the lines of dictators, wielding great amounts of undue power of the larger parties (and thus most Israelis), because of inherent weaknesses in the sturcture of your unicameral, proportional representation system. And, personally, I'm not sure which would be worse (in a worse-case scenario): to risk that a proportionately small number of Arabs who don't want Israel to be identified as "Jewish" only, or to risk that violent, segregationist, xenophobic and virulently sexist ultra-orthodox fundamentalist Jewish men might throw their weight around enough that the basic civil/human rights of women and non-haredi Jews are chipped away into oblivion, perhaps starting with sex-segregated public busses in which women must cover most of their bodies despite the weather or their taste and sit in the back or be physically attacked; starting with the national airline, with narey the blink of an eye, agreeing to dedicate part of their limited fleet to sex-segregated flights, particularly during high seasons when affordable (if any) seats on other flights/airlines may be hard to come by? As a strongly pro-Israel Jew who is also a woman, I'm not sure which of those two "evils" I would choose. And, G-d willing, people like you or anti-Jewish Arab Israelis won't make me or anyone else have to make that awful choice.

They are born on their native soil. As a US citizen, I have the right to dissent against my government. If Israel wants to be the democracy it claims to be, it must allow for pluralistic views. 'Former' lawyer? Not surprising!

considering that if you had actually READ the article, no one spoke about the overthrow of Israel, but about living together in piece. are you sure you worked in the USA? I'm an American and any lawyer putting words in people's mouths like that would definitely deserve a good disbarring

I agree with most of what you're saying, except for point you tried to make about Jews in Arab (or Muslim) parliaments. Indeed, in some Muslim nations, there are a few Jews in the parliament. Even in Iran. However - and there's a big "however" here. In all of these Muslim parliaments, the Jews there show complete, total, unconditional 100% patriotism and allegiance to their nation. They hardly ever say anything negative about the treatment of Jews over there, or God forbid, praise Israel. They mostly just show gratitude... And they most certainly, wouldn't dream to show any sort of identification with the enemy! Or in no time, they are toast... The Arab-Israeli MKs, in contrast - have been doing just that. Siding with Hamas, Hizbollah, and Iran, visiting Syria, calling the chief of staff child-murderer, not condemning terrorist attacks on Israel, supplying sensitive information to our enemies... The list goes on and on. Such people cannot be allowed to represent the nation of Israel, or any other sane democratic nation for that matter. And as further proof that my viewpoint is balanced and not racist -it should be noted that I greatly appreciate the Arab MK's who DO show loyalty and patriotism, like Raleb Majadle and Ayub Kara. If they feel like Arab citizens are being discriminated against (which sadly, is often the case), they speak out politely and in a respectful manner, in a way which only brings out empathy instead of alienation from me. If Tibi, Barakeh and co. would act the same, instead of only inciting the Arab population here - we would have no problem with them at all.