Israel/Palestine
Related: About this forumIn huge blow to Israel, Netherlands declares BDS ‘free speech’
Source: Jerusalem Post, 05/26/2016
Declaration comes as Israel pushes Europe to outlaw the movement * Jerusalem: Dont justify hatred
In a huge blow to Israel, Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders announced Thursday that calls to boycott the Jewish state fall within the limits of free speech, undermining intensive Israeli diplomatic efforts to sway European capitals to outlaw the Boycott, Sanctions and Divestment Movement.
Statements or meetings concerning BDS are protected by freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, as enshrined in the Dutch Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights, Koenders said Thursday during a debate on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the Dutch parliaments Foreign Affairs Committee in The Hague.
He added that the Dutch government has explained to Israel that it opposes any boycott against it, but that BDS endorsement is a free speech issue. Sweden recently made a similar declaration.
His words came just two day after the State Comptroller charged Israel was losing the battle against BDS and delegitimization because of government disorganization and a lack of resources. Dutch Ambassador to Israel Gilles Beschoor Plug told The Jerusalem Post that Thursdays decision did not reflect a change in government policy. Supporting BDS by people in Holland is not illegal and therefore it falls within the limits of freedom, the ambassador said.
Read more: http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/In-huge-blow-to-Israel-Netherlands-declares-BDS-free-speech-455162
King_David
(14,851 posts)But have you been to Amsterdam recently?
Amsterdam used to be a bastion of Gay freedom- I was scared , Gay bashing are even more prevalent than Jew bashing in France .
That's Europe for you.... Gays and Jews best flee to places they protected- like Israel.....
aranthus
(3,386 posts)It's why they haven't outlawed the "N" word. It dpean't make BDS legitimate; just that hatefulness protected.
SoCalMusicLover
(3,194 posts)Criticizing is one thing, but wouldn't we have the same Free Speech protection? If so, I guess our policies and laws are as screwed up as theirs. Or perhaps it has something to do with the 1st Amendment.
Little Tich
(6,171 posts)In the US, hate speech is permissible unless it will lead to imminent hate violence as it's protected by the First Amendment. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hate_speech#United_States)
That's why people like Dershowitz and Geller can say anything they want in the US, but have a problem saying the same things in Europe without being prosecuted. As long as BDS isn't anti-Semitic, but rather a protest against perceived human rights violations by Israel, it can't be declared illegal.
King_David
(14,851 posts)Can you quote some hate speech of his please?
Or did you mean if someone is a proud Jew and defends the Jewish state they are guilty of hate - a lot of people do actually believe that.... Many more hate Dershowitz for the exact same reason.... Bernie too ( because he's Jewish)
Response to King_David (Reply #5)
Mosby This message was self-deleted by its author.
King_David
(14,851 posts)Defender of Jews.
Little Tich
(6,171 posts)Oh, and a pervert too.
When it comes to Dershowitz, there are two kinds of people; those who who believe everything Dershowitz says and those who believe nothing he says. I'm one of the latter, and I believe that Dershowitz actually slides into hate-speech territory when he defends Israel and what he believes should be free speech by attacking Islam, Muslims, Palestinians and just about anyone who doesn't agree with him. I hope the examples below are at enough to at least illustrate why someone would suspect him of promoting hate-speech:
Dershowitz: Radical Islam Is Only Anti-Semitism 'That Matters Now'
Source: Newsmax, Feb 2015
Read more: http://www.newsmax.com/Newsmax-Tv/islam-extremism-anti-semitism-violence/2015/02/17/id/625195/
Dershowitz calling Norway the most anti-Semitic country in Europe:
Alan M. Dershowitz: Norway Needs a Single Standard Against Terrorism
Source: Scholars for Peace in the Middle East, July 29, 2011, by Alan Dershowitz
(snip)
Read more: http://spme.org/spme-research/analysis/alan-m-dershowitz-norway-needs-a-single-standard-against-terrorism/10118/
Dershowitz defending Pamela Geller:
Dershowitz Clashes with CNN Guest After Saying Only Radical Muslims Threaten Speech Mediaite
Source: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0xkZCpPCIvHsSXVdZ0JF2A
Are Radical Imams Going to Redefine Freedom of Speech?
Source: Gatestone Institute, September 19, 2012, by Alan Dershowitz
Read more: http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/3355/radical-imams-freedom-of-speech
The chilling effect of 'lawfare' litigation
Source: The Guardian, 10 February 2010, by Alan Dershowitz and Elizabeth Samson
(snip)
Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/libertycentral/2010/feb/09/libel-reform-radical-islamic-groups
Dershowitz lends his name to promote anti-Palestinian revisionism:
Icon of Evil
Source: Wikipedia
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icon_of_Evil
Dershowitz promoting collective punishment:
New response to Palestinian terrorism
Source: Free Republic, 3/11/2002 (Original article in Jerusalem Post)
(snip)
The response will be automatic. The order will have been given in advance of the terrorist attacks and there will be no discretion. The point is to make the automatic destruction of the village the fault of the Palestinian terrorists who had advance warnings of the specific consequences of their action. The soldiers would simply be acting as the means for carrying out a previously announced policy of retaliation against a designated target.
Read more: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/644063/posts
Note: Yes, it's a link to Freeperland, but I couldn't find the text of the original Jerusalem Post article anywhere else...
King_David
(14,851 posts)aranthus
(3,386 posts)The Netherlands didn't say it wan't hate speech; only that it was protected speech.
Little Tich
(6,171 posts)Source: Wikipedia
(snip)
The Dutch penal code prohibits both insulting a group (article 137c) and inciting hatred, discrimination or violence (article 137d). The definition of the offences as outlined in the penal code is as follows:
Article 137c: He who publicly, orally, in writing or graphically, intentionally expresses himself insultingly regarding a group of people because of their race, their religion or their life philosophy, their heterosexual or homosexual orientation or their physical, psychological or mental disability, shall be punished by imprisonment of no more than a year or a monetary penalty of the third category.
Article 137d: He who publicly, orally, in writing or graphically, incites hatred against, discrimination of or violent action against person or belongings of people because of their race, their religion or their life philosophy, their gender, their heterosexual or homosexual orientation or their physical, psychological or mental disability, shall be punished by imprisonment of no more than a year or a monetary penalty of the third category.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hate_speech#Netherlands
King_David
(14,851 posts)Just recently.
Amsterdam is the Gay-bashing Capital of Europe
https://gayspeak.com/showthread.php?t=13912
So nothing here in the OP is surprising- at all.