Meretz in Israel

Meretz to JNF: Stop the racist policy at Al-Arakib!

editor — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 09:24:07 -0800

The Meretz party this week condemned the actions of the Jewish National Fund (Keren Kayemet l'Yisrael) at the unrecognized Bedouin village of al-Arakib, north of Beersheva, branding them a "racist policy, arising from a viewpoint that regards the Bedouin in the Negev as a nuisance, rather than as citizens with equal rights."

Meretz called for the recognition of al-Arakib and for the provision of basic infrastructure there, and demanded that the JNF immediately suspend its plans to plant a forest at al-Arakib that would deny the villagers any chance of return.

Meretz in Bil'in

editor — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 10:43:25 -0800

Earlier this month, a large group of Meretz activists from the party's "Forum to Fight the Occupation" took part in the weekly demonstration in the Palestinian village of Bil'in against the route of the security barrier. This demonstration took place a week after the death of Jawaher Abu Rahmah, who became seriously ill after inhaling tear gas fired by IDF forces at a Bil'in protest. The village, supported by Palestinian, Israeli and international activists, is protesting the construction of an Israeli settlement, Mattityahu East, on part of Bil'in's land, and the route of the barrier, which separates the village from a majority of its farmland.

Attorney and senior Meretz activist, Yifat Solel, reports: "A large number of Meretz members, led by Mossi Raz, the chair of the party Executive, came to Bil'in - most of them for the first time - to take part in the weekly demonstration, which was larger than usual. Taking part, in addition to ‘Anarchists against the Wall' who have been in Bil'in each week for the past six years, were ‘Combatants for Peace' and ‘Sheikh Jarrah Solidarity'.

Nitzan Horowitz: Our Home is in Flames - The Assault on Israeli Democracy

editor — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 10:34:51 -0800

(a compilation of urgent messages issued this week by Meretz MK Nitzan Horowitz)

Dear Friends,

Our home is in flames.

They won't relent, and they won't slow down. They're already preparing their next steps. It's only going to intensify.

The current Knesset is marked by a terrifying mix of religious coercion and nationalist extremism.

And the most frightening change is the complete loss of shame.

The members of this hardhearted coalition and their helpers are no longer even trying to cover their fist in a thin glove of decency - even if just for the sake of appearance. They admit, and some even boast, that their legislation is discriminatory, seeping with racism, and inimical to the values of equality and social justice.

Meretz chair: Ariel boycotters are worthy of support; Yisrael Beiteinu are a “bunch of thugs”

editor — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 11:54:31 -0800

Meretz party chair, Haim Oron, this week lashed out at the anti-democratic voices in the Likud and Yisrael Beiteinu parties who have called for action against the performing artists who refuse to appear in the West Bank.

Meretz demands pluralism and equality at the Western Wall

editor — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 11:08:16 -0700

New Movement-Meretz MK Nitzan Horowitz has presented a new bill that would amend the "Holy Places Law" and allow for tolerance and pluralism at the Kotel, the Western Wall, among all streams of Jewish practice.