When Israel’s Supreme Court Sees itself as Therapist
Sometimes you can find the damndest things when you read court protocols. While preparing an article on MK Ofir Katz’s (Likud) proposed amendments to the law prohibiting the candidature for the Knesset of those who support Israel’s enemies, I read the judgement in the case against Heba Yazbak that was held before the March 2020 elections.
The attempt to ban MK Yazbak from running in March was narrowly defeated in the Supreme Court by a vote of 5:4. Arguing against her disqualification, five judges accepted her explanation that her social media posts praising terrorists and political prisoners were taken out of context. They all agreed, however, that Yazbak came very close to the line and they concluded that:
The tight result demonstrates how close MK Yazbak came to seeing herself outside the Knesset doors. There is no call “to celebrate” the final results. This is a call for self-examination regarding whether or not this is the way to advance issues of concern to Arab Israelis.
Upon reading this, I snorted in derision, much as I am sure that Yazbak and her cronies did.
So now the Supreme Court judges are playing therapist or school counsellor, suggesting she engage in some self-examination! The arrogance is phenomenal.
On the other hand, perhaps this is something that should be adopted by judges in criminal cases: In cases in which there is insufficient evidence to convict, maybe they should suggest the alleged wife beater engage in self-examination regarding whether or not this is the way to prevent his wife from having an affair; or maybe they should suggest that the alleged bank robber engage in self-examination regarding whether or not this is the way to earn a living to support the family; or if unable to prove case 1000, maybe they should suggest to Netanyahu that he engage in self-examination regarding whether or not pink champaign and Cuban cigars is the best way to impress his wife and friends.
Feature Image Credit: Photo screenshot from Heba Yazbak’s public Facebook page.
