AG Mandelblit (L) and Education Minister Bennett
Photo: Alex Kolomoisky, Yoav Dudkevitch
AG blasts Bennett on Asso. of Civil Rights conference
In letter decrying Education Minister Bennett's decision to cancel conference organized in conjunction with Association of Civil Rights in Israel, examine any future cooperation, AG Mandelblit criticizes cancelation, praises Association, orders minister to consult with him on future decisions on matter; Bennett originally pulled out of conference citing organization's 'pro-terror activity.'
Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit sent a letter to Education Minister Naftali Bennett, in which he chastised the minister for canceling
an event
his ministry had organized in conjunction with the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) and warned Bennett to consult with him or one of his subordinates before deciding to not cooperate with ACRI in the future.
Bennett decided to cancel the conference when he received appeals from bereaved families and the right-wing "Im Tirtzu" organization asking him to do so. Chairman of the ministry's pedagogic secretariat claimed at the time complaints had been made alleging ACRI had been active in preventing the revoking of the civil status of Palestinians convicted of committing terrorist acts.
The secretariat added the education minister had instructed his ministry's director-general to hold an extensive examination of cooperating with ACRI and to determine whether its activities were congruent with the education system's fundamental values.
AG Mandelblit (L) criticized Education Minister Bennett for his decision to abort conference with ACRI (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky, Yoav Dudkevitch)
Mandelblit, however, was explicit in his defense of the civil rights organization, saying, "The Association for Civil Rights is a long-standing and accomplished civil society group, active for dozens of years in defending the human rights of all people.
"The organization is active in multifarious issues, and its actions have significantly contributed to defending human rights in Israel. To wit, the conference at the heart of the matter dealt with workers' rights, a topic whose importance cannot be overstated."
Mandelblit also based his comments to Bennett on, and even quoted, ACRI's Executive Director Attorney Sharon Abraham-Weiss. "The Association for Civil Rights has been defending the entire gamut of human rights for more than 40 years. In this endeavor, the Association also defends the right to citizenship, including said right of those who have committed serious offenses; the rights of all prisoners, and the right of family members of those who have committed crimes to not lose their home.
The conference proceeded as planned without the Education Ministry's participation (Photo: Rami Ben Ari)
We defend the human rights of all people, whether it be the right of Yigal Amir (who assassinated Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin—ed) to be married, or the right of Karim Younis (who was an accessory to the 1981 murder of solider Avraham Bromberg) to study at university. That has been the manner of the Association since its inception, and we are proud of that fact," Mandelblit quoted Abraham-Weiss.
The attorney general then went on to remind Bennett and the ministry's employees of his past instruction: "I place immense importance on conducting a topical, contributive discourse between civil society groups and the state's authorities, which includes senior civil servants participating in conferences and other events. Such activity is helpful in promoting the public's interest."
"I find tenuous the decision to bar your ministry from participating in the aforementioned conference, planned with the participation of the Association of Civil Rights," Mandelblit wrote, before asking Bennett to also reconsider his intention of severing ties with ACRI.
"Insofar as you decide to examine continued future cooperation, I ask such examinations be carried out in tandem with consultation and legislation officials, who will bring the matter to me if necessary," Mandelblit finished his exhortation.
