(25-05-2009) MK Miller's Motion to Ban "Nakba" Observance Approved
The Ministerial Committee for Legislative Affairs on Sunday approved a motion barring the marking of Nakba Day.
"Nakba", or "catastrophe", is the term used to refer to the refugee flight of Palestinian Arabs that followed Israel's inception in 1948.
According to the motion, brought before the committee by Knesset Member Alex Miller (Yisrael Beiteinu), all public events which refer to the establishment of the State of Israel as a calamity will be prohibited by law.
Any infringement on the law would be punishable by up to three years in jail.
Miller's motion followed the violent events which took place during Nakba Day in 2008. It was initially brought before the committee during the last Knesset, but was put aside when the Knesset dispersed and new general elections were called.
The motion will be put before the Knesset for a first reading next week. Should the Knesset decide to mature it into a bill, it will be referred back to the legislation committee for further drafting.
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