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Slain minister's son: Ban terrorists from vote
Son of assassinated right-wing leader Rehavam Zeevi set to petition court against government's decision to allow elections in east Jerusalem, demands east Jerusalemites be prohibited from voting for terror organizations
Tal Rosner
Don't let my father's killers get elected in Jerusalem, Palmach Zeevi, son of murdered right-wing politician Rehavam Zeevi killed in 2001 by Palestinian assassins, demanded Sunday.
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Zeevi, along with two other bereaved families, is set to petition the High Court of Justice Monday to request the residents of east Jerusalem be prohibited from casting their ballots in support of terror groups in the upcoming Palestinian Authority elections.
He will be joined in his appeal by the family of Ella Abuksis, who was killed by a Qassam rocket in Sderot, and the family of Ayala Chen, who was murdered during a shooting attack in the West Bank.
The petitioners claim that in addition to Hamas, four other terror groups are to take part in the elections, including the Popular Front, which was behind Rehavam Zeevi's murder, the Palestine Liberation Front and the Tanzim, headed by Marwan Barghouti.
'Have we lost the war?'
"Ahmed Saadat, who heads the Liberation Front, that same wicked man who got up one day and murdered an Israeli minister - is allowed to get elected. This is a miserable decision. These guys, whose names appear on campaign posters, support terror with no exceptions," Zeevi said.
"Throughout the years we pleaded with the international community to add these organizations to the axis of evil list, and now with our own hands we allow Israeli citizens to vote for them. How can we expect to be taken seriously?" he asked rhetorically.
Zeevi said the Israeli public does not understand what is happening under its own nose, and that it needs to be woken up.
"I'm not speaking as an orphan who lost his father, but as an Israeli who sends his children to serve in the army. Our deterrence capacities are dwindling down. Have we lost the war that we're acting this way?" he said.
Based on the law
Professor Emanuel Gross and Professor Michael Corinaldi who represent the plaintiffs, explained the legal basis for the appeal.
"We ask that east Jerusalem residents who are Israeli citizens be prevented from voting for terrorist organizations recognized as such by the State of Israel," Gross explained.
He said that a law passed in 1996 has allowed the participation of east Jerusalem residents in elections, on condition the contending parties do not resume illegal or undemocratic methods.
"By virtue of this law, we are allowed to prevent east Jerusalemites from voting for parties that have raised the banner of illegal and undemocratic ways," he said.
Roee Nahmias contributed to the report
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