Members of the young faction of the Bayit Yehudi party succeeded in having a number of Arab bus drivers employed by the “Kavim” Company fired because they mocked IDF soldiers and Memorial Day.
A video was published online about a month ago in which three Arab drivers from Kavim were seen holding a mock funeral service for IDF soldiers. In the video, which has since been removed, the drivers were seen wrapping one of the soldiers in the company flag while a second driver was wearing a beret, like IDF soldiers and the third acted as if he was firing a weapon as does an honor guard at a military burial. The entire video was accompanied by laughter as they mocked IDF soldiers who fell in the line of duty as well as Memorial Day.
Members of the young faction of the Bayit Yehudi party demanded the bus company fire the drivers for their lack of respect for state values, citing they were “disrespectful and insolent”.
Company CEO Tzion Pat condemned the behavior of the Arab drivers was apprehensible and constituted a violation of state symbols and values as well as being an insult to bereaved families. Pat expressed the company’s sorry over the incident, issued an apology, and announced the three would be dismissed.
Assaf Danoch, who heads the young faction of Bayit Yehudi, added “We must not tolerate those who degrade state symbols. Drivers may not disgrace the IDF and soldiers who fell in the line of service.” The young faction praised the bus company for its response and actions.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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4 Responses
Before anyone crows at this, think for a moment; three people have been fired form their jobs for the “crime” of “degrade[ing] state symbols”. Where are we, the USSR?
What these Arabs did was offensive and disgusting but was neither illegal nor violent. Yet they are losing their jobs because of it. What will happen when a frum driver refuses to stand to attention for Hatikvah?
Laws exist to protect all citizens, not just the ones we like or identify with. If a law is necessary to protect some of us then it will only do so if everyone has equal access to its protection.
the drivers agree that their action was apprehensible (capable of being understood or perceived).
Many times the reporting from YWN Israel isn’t capable of being understood or perceived (apprehensible).
The drivers actions were reprehensible (deserving censure or condemnation).
Many times the reporting from YWN Israel regarding Israeli politics is deserving censure or condemnation (reprehensible)
1. Such laws are common in countries, other than democracies. In democracies, the concept of freedom of expression prevails. But Israel is a middle eastern country, and it shows it more than they admit.
2. The law is really aimed at hareidim and is a continuation of current laws manadating observance of Yom Haatzmut as a yuntuf. They realize that the plan to being mass conscription of the the yeshiva students will engender mass oppostion, and they need vehicles to surpress that opposition.
#1- Your premise is incorrect: their action was illegal under Israeli law.