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Judge Rubinstein: Arabs don’t have to sing anthem
Aviad Glickman
Published: 01.03.12, 12:46
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1. How about...
Igor ,   Germany   (03.01.12)
...not obeying rulings of a court I don't identify with? Especially if the court does not identify with sovereign? What Justice Joubran privately identifies with is none of my business. But as a public figure whose job is to uphold the laws and moral values of Israel, I expect him to publicly express his identification with the state. No-one forced him into supreme court, or into public service, for that matter. But when he opted for the job, he should have had thought about what is he expected to do in public.
2. Judge Rubinstein is a dummy!
Reuven   (03.01.12)
3. Judge Rubinstein's comment makes common sence.
Ivan ,   South Africa   (03.01.12)
4. Post Zionism
Abraham Nachmias ,   Petach Tikva IL   (03.01.12)
I'm sick and bored of this post Zionists "politically correct" people! If you don't feel identified with the national anthem of your country, don't pretend to live on a government paid salary. His argument is as stupid as somebody saying he doesn't sing God Save the Queen because he is against the institution of monarchy. Or you are Israeli or you are not
5. Singing our national anthem
Helen ,   West Hartford, CT   (03.01.12)
Justice Joubran did just what I did as a kid when we sang Christmas carols in school. I refused to sing words that suggested that I believe that Jesus is the Lord. But the U.S. is primarily a Christian country; the singing of Christmas carols is part of the larger culture. I am not a Christian, but I am an American. Hooray for differences!
6. This is also my opinion
Yossef   (03.01.12)
7. Enough pseudo-intellectual rationalisation
David N. ,   Haifa, ISRAEL   (03.01.12)
If they cannot identify with Israel, be then why on earth do we want them on our High Court? This pseudo-intellectual rationalisation is meaningless. The Arab justice may be a good man, a fair man, and a worthy member of the High Court in many ways. But this is ISRAEL and it is a good place, and we love it, and it is our homeland. If the justice cannot identify with this as a minority (a BIG minority), then go home to your own country. I have personally seen Bedouin and Druse snap to attention, even get teary-eyed at Ha-Tikva on Fallen Soldiers Day. Mr Justice, belt it out and sing from your very soul: Israel is good not only for Jews, but for the whole world! The "state" to which you claim to be loyal, is the Land and People of Israel. What exactly cannot you identify with--Israel being a Jewish state?
8. Rubenstein should be fired also..
Outrageous ,   US/Israel   (03.01.12)
Can you imagine a Muslim or Hispanic judge on the Supreme Court refusing to sing the Star Spangled Banner? Such candidates should be disqualified BEFORE they are chosen to sit on the bench.
9. The Supreme Court
Raphael ,   Netanya   (03.01.12)
Is an insult to democracy, and infringes regularly into the executive and legislative powers'field. Judge Rubinsteins position shows that this self appointed closed club (you may understand mafia) has already chosen the one state solution with the right of return. They are leading us towards a putsch.
10. How about changing the lyrisch..
Jacob ,   Munich, Germany   (03.01.12)
Reflecting that about 20% of Israel's Citizen are non-jewish
11. Arabs don't have to sing anthem
Glen   (03.01.12)
so religious Jews don't have to listen to women singing.
12. Singing Hatikvah
Bubba ,   Efrat   (03.01.12)
I agree that the judge should not have to sing HaTikvah, one should not have to sing what is not in his heart, BUT, he should have stood to show respect for the office of the court presidency and should sign, as should all civil servants, a declaration of allegiance and support for the country and the for the government of Israel, the Nation - state of the Jewish People.
13. Sorry, as a government official there is NO excuse!
hippocrates ,   earth   (03.01.12)
Americans in 2012 can't relate to fighting british in hand to hand combat 236 years prior, and many people can't relate to amrican philosophy back then- which included full-on slavery- yet we still stand and pledge allegiance. Same for this guy. At the very least do something patriotic showing the minimal allegiance. If they don't like it they can sing the national anthem of Aza or of Beirut.
14. Leftist hypocrisy BS
Menachem ,   Israel   (03.01.12)
Israeli Arabs have no problems identifying with the benefits and rights of their Israeli citizenship, rights which are inseparable from citizenship OBLIGATIONS, Jewish minorities in the diaspora don't complain that there are crosses on the flags of the UK or Sweden although they can hardly identify with the cross. Israeli Arabs who can't bear living in a Jewish majority nation-state should waiver their rights and move to one of the 22 Arab Judenrein dictatorships where I am sure they will be very happy.
15. Who is a Jew?
Charles   (03.01.12)
An Arab doesn't sinfg a national anthem that speaks exclusively about the homeland for the Jewish soul, and that's rejected as a bad thing. There are Christians that would immigrate and proudly sing this national anthem knowing it has nothing to do with them, and this is rejected as a bad thing. People, you can't pick who likes you and who doesn't just as you can't pick who was born within your borders and who wasn't. Stop demanding non-Jews to conform to your litmus test for acceptance - you can to it to yourselves (who's a Jew, who's not), but that's it. If non-Jews have to measure up to your impossible standards, they never will because it's impossible. Either this is a free country or it is not. And it's not like we can afford more enemies than we already have.
16. The Star Spangled Banner the U.S National Anthem
Rod ,   Fargo N.Dakota   (03.01.12)
was written during the time of slavery in the U.S. Yet Black Americans have no problem singing it.Or honoring Presidents who were slave owners.
17. how sick have we gotten?
Larry ,   Los Angeles   (03.01.12)
When a Jewish state has an Arab as a top judge for Jewish matters. Would an Arab state ask a Jew to decide Islamic matters?
18. To all the armchair general talkbackers!!!
Shimon ,   Poleg   (03.01.12)
Whilst I despise the left in this situation he is correct. I am a combat officer in Miluim and during my regular sedir service I served as a commander in a non-Jewish unit in the army in Lebanon. Whilst the Bedouin and Druze soldiers were prepared and often did die defending Israel to demand them to sing about Jewish souls etc is a little bit too much. To stand in respect is more than enough for me. I was in England for my childhood and I stood in respectful silence when G-d save the queen and Jerusalem and other Christian anthems were sung
19. What Rubenstein did not tell you
michaelpielet ,   israel   (03.01.12)
Arabs cannot sing Hatikva because their loyalty is to the arab nation. arabs want to replace the Jewish state with an arab state. arabs should be repatriated to their 22 arab states where they can fullfill their arab national aspirations. Its that simple.
20. #1 - I agree
Eyal ,   USA Israel   (03.01.12)
I just hope he protects the laws of Israel and not help the Palestinians with injustice.
21. Is Today April 1 or March 1
Dr Harry ,   Jerusalem   (03.01.12)
What is this guy blabbing about?? If arabs can't relate to or does not reflect their roots, then what are they doing here, or what are you doing here Mr Rubinstein? Then I am to understand that this state is not a state for Jews, but for people who call themselves "Israeli". Make up your mind then. You can't have it both ways. THEN STOP SINGING THIS HATIKVA song altogether. If i do not relate to it, WHY SHOULD I STAND FOR IT EITHER. You make no sense. For your information, Eretz Yisroel IS FOR JEWS and if Joubran can't relate to that, get off the bench. You Mr Rubinsteun just disqualified Joubran as a Justice. How can a man who does't relate or we as JEWS, don't reflect his roots, how can he be a Justice in the STATE OF ISRAEL?????? Thank you Rubinstein for proving that the State of Israel are not for JEWS.
22. Perhaps they aren't musical
vernon marriott ,   Jerusalem   (03.01.12)
Judges are paid to judge. Knowing the way that Israelis sing - which is pretty much like a elephant being disembowelled - perhaps the noble Justice decided to refrain from joining the cacophony of tuneless wonders.
23. What is the point of being a judge in the Supreme Court...
Alexander ,   Tel Aviv, Israel   (03.01.12)
...of the very country you hate, despise and cannot identify yourself with? Then why serve the Supreme Court? This Arab traitor should either serve a local low level court in Israel or be stripped of his citizenship and seek a profession outside of Israel. An ARAB judge in an ISRAELI SUPREME COURT who can't and who won't identify himself with the very country he is serving? Who is crazy here? The question is not why an Arab is a judge in the Supreme Court. The question is why Israel even accepts a single Arab in the Supreme Court and why Israel hasn't demanded any loyalty from from its judges. With judges such as these - politically motivated Left Wing Liberal traitors that despise their country, is anyone surprised that the judges do not do what is best for our country? As of yet, there is STILL NO OATH OF LOYALTY and there is STILL NO CONSTITUTION in Israel, that protects Israel as a JEWISH and DEMOCRATIC state.
24. How can a hidden enemy be a Judge.
Nachman   (03.01.12)
Does he have any influence on the Judgements of Judah and Samaria ??? Did he have any influence on the Gush Katif debacle ??? Can someone put toghether his views regarding the above.
25. supreme court are self appointed leftists
david ,   new york   (03.01.12)
the system is rigged so that the old court gets to pick the new court. even though their ideology finds no traction in the general population in israel, they can keep on going, dictating how israel fights its enemies, which haredi children should be taken from their parents because they don't like the school they send them to etc. this system needs to be overthrown because they are destroying israel. let judges be appointed directly by the prime minister and serve life terms like the US does.
26. #18: missing the point
david ,   new york   (03.01.12)
you are missing the point: you don't call july 4th "nakba day" and no one is trying to make england not exist.
27. non-Jewish whatevers
yosef ,   williamsburg   (03.01.12)
You may be correct #18 but thes types of behavior from fellow Yids perpexes me...at least the US Supreme Court has the professionalism NOT to speak out on stupid issues like thes or any other politik things.
28. The Hatikva is Jewish
Charles ,   Petach Tikva   (03.01.12)
full of Jewish feelings , not feelings of non Jews . This Judge is an ISRAELI one , part of the ISRAELI society , who is not Jewish . Do you want a Non Jew to have our feelings ? Impossible . He is a HONORABLE and LOYAL servitor of Israel , more can't be asked from him . He does NOT hate Israel , he identifie himself with the Israeli people that is not only Jewish . Don't hate a LOYAL Israeli !
29. A shame
Jeff ,   S.A. USA   (03.01.12)
There are too many Rubinstein’s in the government, no wonder; disloyalty to the State is accepted. I don´t know any other country in the world, where members of the parliament or high court are rejecting the existence of the State they are living in.
30. Singing the Anthem
Joe ,   Israel   (03.01.12)
If the "Judge" doesn't want to sing the anthem - it means nothing for him - then he should not be a judge in the Israeli Supreme Court. He is either for us or against us - there is no middle ground.
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