February 7, 2011 | The Rabbinical establishment are attempting to hide behind the freedom of expression.
Police on Monday issued an arrest warrant for Hebron Settlement Chief Rabbi over the rabbi’s refusal to be questioned in relation to the forward he wrote for the book “The King’s Torah” which calls for the murder of non-Jews.
Many in the rabbinical establishment have come out in support of Rabbi Lior, claiming that an investigation is an infringement on the democratic freedom of expression.
Peace Now supports all democratic freedoms; however Israeli law clearly states that the freedom of expression is limited in two instances:
1. Calling for the murder of a specific person or group of people.
2. Using speech to incite to racism (i.e. calling upon people not hire Arabs etc).
In this case Peace Now feels that the law has clearly been broken, and the Rabbinical establishment are attempting to hide behind the freedom of expression.
We believe that the more moderate Rabbi’s in Israel must stand up and condemn these racist and dangerous expressions, and the police must begin to investigate these instances.
Israel must not be allowed to deteriorate into a place of racism and darkness.