When Salim Jubran became the first Arab to be appointed to Israel’s High Court of Justice there was an audible protest from many citizens who feared an Arab justice simply would not share the loyalty and patriotism of his Jewish colleagues. The liberals were quick to stymie opponents’ fears, which they insisted were unfounded. To the contrary, they were pleased with the appointment, a move that highlighted Israel’s democratic values.
On Tuesday, 5 Adar 5772 Jubran had his test, a situation that placed him in the public’s eye and he did just what he wanted, acting on his conscious. He showed all of Israel just where his loyalties lie. It occurred at the swearing-in ceremony of the new court president, Justice Asher Gronis, who assumed the court’s leadership position after his predecessor High Court President Justice Dorit Beinish stepped down earlier in the day.
Everything was fine until the end of the ceremony when the Hatikvah, the national anthem was played. The honorable Justice Jubran refused to sing. According to a Channel 2 News report, the singing of the national anthem is a “very sensitive” issue for his honor, perhaps pained at the meaning of the words that express the Jewish People’s longing to return to the homeland after 2000 years of exile. Whatever the case may be, and his honor opted not to explain why he will not sing the national anthem, the incident has resulted in somewhat of a political storm, with MK (Ichud Leumi) Dr. Michael Ben-Ari putting forward what he is calling the Jubran Bill, which will stipulate that a person who did not serve in the IDF or national service may not be eligible to appointment to the High Court. If one is already serving, then s/he may not serve as the court’s president or vice president.
MK (Yisrael Beitenu) David Rotem in his capacity as chairman of the Knesset Law Committee and also serves on the nation’s judicial selection committee has already turned to Justice Minister Prof. Yuval Ne’eman. He is demanding that the minister dismiss Justice Jubran from the bench.
Vice Premier (Likud) Moshe Ya’alon feels the criticism is out of place, pointing out the justice stood as required, acting respectfully. Ya’alon, a former IDF chief of staff does not feel one is compelled to sing and as long as Judge Jubran acted in a respectful fashion, as he did, the public outcry is simply out of place and perhaps even racial discrimination.
He adds that seeking to compel a non-Jew to sing the national anthem leads to conflict.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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6 Responses
Of course he won’t sing it. It makes absolutely no sense from his perspective. I wouldn’t sing the American anthem if the whole thing was about puritans yearning for freedom from the Church of England.
When you play with fire, you get burned. They did it to themselves. Sick, sick country. What if America had an anti-American president? Oh…
Why does YWN see not singing Hatikvah as an issue? He should be applauded for resisting the Zionists just as the Rebbe said.
What kind of idiot Jewish country appoints an Arab to serve as one of its judges??!!?
“He adds that seeking to compel a non-Jew to sing the national anthem leads to conflict.”
The late and great Reb Meir Kahne must be spinning in his grave. In an attempt to be fair and equal the Israeli government is setting itself up for nothing but trouble in allowing a Arab to be part of the justice system.
So what? Do we as chareidim sing that despicable song?
Anyway, realistically, Yaalon said the truth. I fully agree with what Yaalon said.