As Israel continues down the path toward fascism, it seems that the population applauds every undemocratic move. Balad, as a party advocates Equal Rights for all Israeli citizens. May I ask, Why is this wrong? The Arab parties demonstrate peacefully against the militarization of Israeli society and the wanton destruction in Gaza. Again I ask : Why is this wrong? Avigdor Lieberman advocates the expulsion of Israeli Arabs and he is applauded while those who advocate for Equal rights are denigrated and banned. As for the stupid argument that the majority has the undiminished right to deny any civil rights to the minority, that is the same argument used by the Nazis prior ro WWII and the old Soviet system. Both of those regimes wound up condrmned by history for using the same idea that somehow the majority can always trample the minority and that law, in both cases, must always bow to the majority. I am particularly ashamed by those purporting to be Americans who support such an atrocity. Do they ever teach history in the schools you attended?

Does this writer even live in Israel? The Israeli Arabs have had full voting rights and their own political parties and MKs for years now, and it has not made them all into loyal citizens. The agitators in question have not called for simple "equal rights", they have met with terrorist leaders in other countries and have openly agitated for the destruction of the very country whose benefits they currently enjoy. This is not freedom of speech, this is treason, and as such is a valid reason in any civilized state to warrant their removal from normal political discourse and activity.

LISTEN URI, LIEBERMAN VOTED TO GIVE GAZA UP, NOW HE REALIZES HIS MISTAKE. SO URI YOU ARE WRONG AGAIN HOW IS RUSSIA THIS TIM EOF THE YEAR YOU NEED TO REVISIT OLD TIMES TO APPRECIATE A JEWISH COUNTRY LIKE ISRAEL

stick his head into a gazan toilet

The banning of Arab political parties from taking part in the Israeli General Elections is shameful. It is also a threat to democracy. The strength of Israel lies in the strength of its democracy to tolerate differing view points. This is an attempt by the anti-democratic right wing parties to stifle differing opinion. Labour and Kadima fell for it this time and joined them. Hopefully, the court will over turn their decision and allow these parties to participate. If not, then there is no purpose in exercising one's vote in an anti-democratic election.

B"H The racism accusation should be applied to the "Arab parties”, per definition: the very fact that they exist is racist as they are ethnically and not politically organized. They are therefore pre-political, the same way "parties" in African tribal so called democracies are.