More Proof That Israel is NOT a Democracy

URGENT PETITION

We, the undersigned, are gravely concerned by the threat to ban Arab political
figures, foremost among them MK Azmi Bishara, and his party, the National
Democratic Assembly, from participating in the upcoming Israeli elections. We
call upon the Israeli High Court of Justice not to sanction such a scandalous
decision.

MK Azmi Bishara's political program, which calls to democratize the State of
Israel into a state for all its citizens-Arabs and Jews alike-is not a threat to
democracy. It is legitimate not to agree with it, but it is not legitimate to
forbid him from proposing it to the Israeli electorate within a democratic
campaign.

The Arab citizens of Israel, who comprise 20% of the population, have the right
to a democratically elected leadership that will represent them, their needs, and
their hopes. Banning one of their most outspoken leaders-re-elected consistently
since 1996 and expected to garner more votes than ever in the upcoming
elections-means depriving them of their basic civil rights.

We call upon all democrats, in Israel and around the world, to mobilize against
this threat. We implore the Israeli High Court of Justice to rule in favor of
democracy and against discrimination and censorship.

We ask that the right of the National Democratic Assembly and its candidate, MK
Azmi Bishara, to participate in free and fair elections be upheld, and, by
extension, the rights of their voters-Jewish and Arab citizens of the State of
Israel-to be represented in the Knesset.

Please sign this petition and send it to:

The Supreme Court of Justice, Kiryat Ben Gurion, Jerusalem, Israel. Fax: (+ 972
2) 652 71 18; Meir Shitrit, Minister of Justice, Ministry of Justice, 29 Salah
al-Din Street, Jerusalem 91029, State of Israel. Fax: (+ 972 2) 62 8 54 38 or +
972 2 628 861; Ambassador Yaakov Levy, Permanent Mission of Israel to the Offices
of the United Nations in Geneva, Avenue de la Paix 1-3, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland,
fax: + 41 22 7160555, e-mail: mission-israel [at] geneva.mfa.gov.il

Please also write to the embassies of Israel in your respective country. To
locate the address please check: http://www.embassyworld.com/

For more information:

http://www.azmibishara.info/