MK Gideon Sa'ar: "Ruling turns state into ATM for Palestinian terror."
By JERUSALEM POST STAFFcohen , ran 298.88(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Knesset Members slammed a High Court of Justice ruling on Tuesday as the most recent example of contempt by the court for Knesset legislation.
The High Court decision to cancel the law that exempts the state from liability for damages to Palestinians will "destroy Israeli democracy," said MK Michael Eitan (Likud), the former chairman of the Knesset Law and Constitution Committee.
Etian joined several lawmakers in submitting a request that the Knesset convene for an emergency discussion of the court's decision.
"The High Court of Justice, which dismisses laws and doesn't understand we are at war, is becoming one of the most significant problems [threatening] Israel's existence," said MK Benny Elon (National Union-National Religion Party). "The system must be changed."
Elon's party colleague, MK Arye Eldad, said the High Court needed to be "stopped" by creating a special court to deal with legislation cases or by changing the system by which judges are selected.
Other MKs also said they were deeply worried by the implications of the ruling.
MK Gideon Sa'ar (Likud) said the ruling "turns the state's Treasury into an ATM for Palestinian terrorism."
"The court has tied the Israel Defense Forces' hands and given terrorist organization the legitimacy to act under the sponsorship of the Palestinian population," said MK Zevulun Orlev (NU-NRP).
Left-wing politicians praised the court's decision.
"Once again we see that we are lucky to have the High Court of Justice, which time after time saves the Knesset and the government from themselves and is the last protector of human and civilian rights," said MK Ran Cohen (Meretz).
Cohen's party colleagues joined in his praise of the High Court, with Chairman Yossi Beilin calling on the Knesset to examine itself in light of the ruling.
Arab MKs also praised the decision, with MK Ibrahim Sarsur (UAL-Ta'al) saying it would "send the IDF a message that not everything can be done in the name of security." MK Ahmad Tibi (UAL-Ta'al) said that while he was happy to hear the High Court's decision, he couldn't "get too excited over it, because the High Court will soon approve assassinations, as it has in the past."
The Arab rights organization Adala issued a statement on Tuesday saying it "welcomed the ruling of the High Court that attacks the Knesset's racist laws."
