Dark days for Knesset
Anti-pride parade bill threatens democracy and may be prelude for other restrictions
The fact that Shas Knesset members and ministers are willing to trample over Israeli democracy in their struggle against Jerusalem's gay community's freedom of expression isn't new. For them this is only a minor sacrifice, if at all, as in their view democracy is no more than a temporary necessity forced upon them by the majority of Israeli citizens, who still wish to live in a free and open society.
However, last week we witnessed a surprising and frightening development, after members of the Knesset's Legislative Committee joined MK Meshulam Nahari in backing a bill that would allow the Jerusalem city council (controlled by ultra-Orthodox representatives) to ban the gay pride parade, or any other parade they feel hurts their feelings (the bill was resisted by Ministers Freidmann, Dichter, and Sheetrit from Kadima.)
How embarrassing it is that in the State of Israel we need to remind ministers of some basic democratic principles.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it," French philosopher Voltaire declared back in the 18th century. Yet here in Israel, all-out struggles take place mostly in order to silence others.
Ultra-Orthodox Knesset members, ministers, and public figures are unwilling to internalize the notion that it is possible for views they find difficult to accept to be expressed publicly in the State of Israel. They fail to accept a reality whereby the State belongs to everyone equally, whether they are Orthodox, secular, Arab, or gay.
The ultra-Orthodox are convinced of their moral superiority – I of course have no objection to them continuing to hold on to this belief, as long as they are willing to understand that other people think differently and have the right to express their views.
The capital is indeed home to a very large ultra-Orthodox community, which constitutes a third of city residents, yet as difficult as it may be for the Orthodox to stomach this, Jerusalem is also home to a large gay community (with some people being a part of both communities.)
The Orthodox power in the city make no difference for those who care about democracy, because in a democracy, the fact they dominate city council cannot allow them to silence even one person they do not like.
Why stop there?
We are not attempting to convince the Orthodox not to be hurt by the pride parade, even though we would very much like it if they were not hurt. The parade in its entirety is aimed at spreading the love for others, whoever they are, as well as tolerance towards others (even if they happen to be Orthodox and straight.) If the Orthodox choose to be hurt by this, it is their right to do so.
Yet freedom of expression is not annulled when the Orthodox are hurt by the mere expression, even if this is really not our intention. It is a pity that we are forced to offer this reminder for the benefit of archaic figures among our leaders just like Salman Rushdie had to make this clear to the Iranian regime.
This struggle is not ours alone; this is the struggle of any supporter of freedom and democracy whoever he or she may be. The proposed law would allow Orthodox at Jerusalem city hall to deprive the freedom of those who they deem to hurt their feelings. Protest in favor of public transportation on Shabbat? Marching in the streets wearing immodest clothes? A rally against the construction of a yeshiva at a secular neighborhood? All of those events could be banned in the capital based on the bill supported by the government of Israel.
And why stop there? Tomorrow we can expect similar laws across Israel. Therefore, any person unwilling to become the silenced party tomorrow must join today the struggle for the survival of Israeli democracy against those who threaten it.
The writer is the director of Jerusalem's "Open House" organization of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgendered people
