MK Tamar Zandberg (Meretz) argued that “this entire group is under suspicion only due to racism, and the claim that this is a security issue does not come close to justifying such a collective and continuous injustice.”
MK Osama Sa’adi (Joint Arab List) called the law “one of the most racist laws to ever be enacted by this Knesset. Four High Court judges determined that it was unconstitutional. It is time to erase this black stain from the law books.”
MK Nachman Shai (Zionist Camp) said the Shin Bet’s arguments did not convince him that this group of people poses a “unique threat,” while fellow Zionist Camp MK Merav Michaeli said, “From what we have heard here, it is obvious that humanitarian amendments to the law are required, for everyone’s benefit.”
MK Mordhay Yogev (HaBayit HaYehudi) said, “Saving lives is a supreme value, and where lives are at risk, it also restricts the individual. However, I agree with my colleagues that the validity of the law should be extended, providing that humanitarian amendments are put in place.”
Committee Chairman Dichter concluded the meeting, saying, “I am very concerned about the data presented here – that more than 10 percent of the terrorists in the past year belong to the group we are talking about. However, we should also take into consideration the older population, people aged 60 and over, as well as minors aged 14 to 18. These issues must be discussed more than once a year, so I ask that the committee vote to recommend that the Knesset plenum extend the temporary act by a year, but I also ask that additional meetings on these issues be held within the next six months.”
