News from Israel: Meretz Israel MKHaim Oron on Infiltration Bill

Meretz Israel Brief – 3.2.10MK (Member of Knesset) Haim Oron (Meretz) calls on the government to rescinder infiltration bill 2.2.10Meretz Chairman Haim Oron has today advised the government that the infiltration bill should be replaced with a bill defining the status of refugees. The bill received its first reading in the Knesset yesterday, proposing the automatic detainment of illegal immigrants on entry into the country, a notion contrary to the 1991 convention for proceedure in the treatment of asylum seekers. The bill also seeks to refute Article 6 of the current law regarding the treatment of asylum seekers, effectively prohibiting the absorption of subjects from enemy states, such as Sudan. The proposal has inspired much criticism from internal elements in government, including liberal parties such as Meretz. In a statement following the bill motion, MK Oron claimed: “the terms of the bill must be anchored in the legislation of international convention, to enable citizens of specified enemy states who pose no threat to Israel to seek asylum here without risking deportation to places where they will suffer oppression.”As the Interior Committee for the Law for Protection from Infiltration adjourned for the second consecutive day, MK H.Oron addressed the committee: “Israel has both a moral and historical obligation to refugees. It is the duty of the Knesset to disambiguate the status of refugees according to the strictures of international law. Another Meretz representative, Ilan Gilon bolstered the position of the Chairman, claiming “beyond my embarrassment is shock at this glaring example of racism, where the discussion's participants rely on facts distorted to fit their agenda, such as the idea that refugees are carriers of contagious disease. In the core of the Judaism lies a conscience that renounces the righ t to exist in the midst of racism. I suggest background checks as the determinant of whether individual asylum seekers pose a security threat, while women and children are granted the right to humanitarian aid in Israel.”

Translated by MERETZ UK original in hebrew at Meretz Israel

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From our Israeli Sister Organisation: Knesset Presidency refuses request by MK H.Oron and N.Horowitz to discuss the conduct of security forces against leftist activists in Sheikh Jarah 19.1.10

Following the refusal of the Presidency to address the issue of police violence against protesters at Sheikh Jarah and the states arbitrary detention of human rights demonstrators in Jerusalem, Meretz Chairman H.Oron and MK N.Horowitz forwarded the matter to Knesset speaker Reuvin Rivlin. In an urgent letter Meretz representatives urged the Speaker to put the issue on the Committee of Environmental and Internal Affairs agenda for review.Transliteration:, Meretz UK Volunteer





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Haiti, Israel Survey, and Update from Meretz Israel

• Meretz UK has added some donation links for donations to Haiti to our website. We will leave them there for a month or so.   If you haven't donated yet, we urge to participate in this global appeal for showing humanity by giving whatever small funds you have available. 
• Do think of booking a ticket for our 24th of January refugee day.  Spaces are limited, so to avoid disappointment use the pay pal booking facility on the link above.
• Complete the Israel Survey (at bottom of this posting)
  

From our sister organisation in Israel (translated from Hebrew):
Responding to the Turkish Diplomatic crisis (see here) Meretz Israel MK (Member of Parliament (Knesset)) Oron slams Lieberman's (and Deputy D. Ayalon) conduct as 'intimidating' and 'signalling no alternative,' but their  own exit from the government' and that "(this) thuggish behavior leads one to believe that anything less than their dismissal from office won't stop the harm they are causing Israel and its image worldwide (see also here)." Meretz MK Ilan Gilon suggested the Knesset relegate Lieberman to Foreign Minister for Eastern Europe 'leaving (general) foreign affairs to a diplomat'.

Gilon also continues touring Tel Aviv with “Access Israel, ” part of an initiative to ensure public businesses provide accessibility for people with disabilities.

Meretz Israel Chairman H.Oron urged the Knesset this week to ignore Likud's MK Danny Danon's request that the Israeli Arab MK Mahmoud Berekah,  be excluded from the Knesset delegation for Auschwitz. He added “Its a shame that even the memory of the Holocaust is distorted by unnecessary and unpleasant confrontations.”

ISRAEL SURVEY
If you have time please fill out the MORI / Jewish Policy Institute Israel Survey commissioned by the Pears Foundation )

To start the survey click here.or via the website www.ipsos-mori.com/israelsurvey . Please forward to others. It is important that all voices are being heard, including that of the Jewish Left in the UK. For questions email israelsurvey@ipsos-mori.com

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A day of our sister organisation - Meretz Israel

Many in the UK always ask us, what does Meretz in Israel do, they are a party of bygone ages. Here is a sample of just one day of Meretz Israel, written by one of our volunteers:

 Route 443 - “In any other language including Hebrew, its called Apartheid.
 6.1.10 Meretz Chairman Chaim Oron, today led the debate in the Knesset for opening Route 443 to Palestinians. Eilan Gilon to Bibi and Abu Mazen: “Return to the negotiating table!”

6.1.10 In todays general assembly address, MK Eilan Gilon urged the Knesset to renew negotiations with the Palestinians. by acknowledging the American plan for a final status agreement. Debate for health funds to provide hospital nursing is adjourned.

6.1.10 The assembly today voted against a motion presented by Chairman of the Public Healthcare lobby, Haim Oron, for the national healthcare to cover nursing costs. The bill made no demands on the budget, as funds would be funnelled through a 0.3% health tax increase on elites. Meretz Chairman, Chaim Oron, responds to Rabbi Haim Drukerman's instructions for Hesder Yeshiva soldiers to refuse settlement evacuation orders

6.1.10 Oron claimed that an intent to thwart future evacuation of settlements is not the domain of marginal elements among hasder yeshivas . “The government must appreciate the gravity of Drukerman's actions and their implications for peace.” Meretz Leader Haim Oron proposes amendment to severence pay law

6.1.10 Chaim Oron, Meretz Chairman and member of the Finance Committee claims the current law waives the right of compensation for voluntary resignation. The amendment seeks to expand eligibility those working for a three year period, even if they resigned on their own initiative.


Explanations:
Route 443 is the main highway connecting the West Bank and Modi'in with Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The closure of the road was motioned in 2000, followed by the erection of anti-sniper barricades on parts of hte highway adjacent to Palestinian populated areas
The Hasder Yeshiva Program combines Torah study with army service

The Ball is in Netanyahu's hands -

A Statement from Meretz Israel - Haim Oron. M.K.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during his second tenure as a prime minister enjoys perfect political conditions that allow a political breakthrough. It is an opportunity to reduce the wasted years of the past: The leader of the Palestinian Authority has been opposed to the method of an armed struggle for more than a generation , the terrorism of the past has stopped. Netanyahu enjoys political stability and manoeuvrability. Moreover, in Washington sits a young president, a "responsible adult," for once. Obama with assertiveness and vigour appears to want to move on the political process speedily.
 

The ball is therefore in Netanyahu’s hands, especially because there is a demographic issue here, there is the danger to the Jewish State's continued existence as a democratic state, which is in reality almost a state of apartheid. There is also the Jihad culture on the other side and a general increase of extremism on both.

A turn in how we understand the conflict is essential and a different way of governance by the Israeli government and its leader. Survival is not a purpose and is not a goal...

Netanyahu, Go in peace.



Freely (!) translated by Meretz UK.  The original can be read in Hebrew

here http://www.myparty.org.il/aspx/article.aspx?id=473

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