Arabs slam bill to criminalize 'nakba'‏

This bill is certainly an attack on free speech:

"Arab activists and politicians are slamming proposed legislation that would criminalize commemorating the establishment of the State of Israel as a day of mourning. The bill, which has been submitted by MK Alex Miller (Israel Beiteinu), would punish citizens with jail terms of up to three years for commemorating what Palestinians and Arabs consider their nakba or catastrophe. The bill, which is still in a preliminary stage, is expected to be discussed by the cabinet in the coming weeks, Miller said.

"We think this is another step to limit freedom of speech and political activity" of Arab citizens, said MK Hanna Swaid of the Arab-Jewish party Hadash. Such a proposal, he said, was an attempt to deny Arab citizens their right to commemorate a very important chapter in their history and identity. While it is considered unlikely to pass, Swaid said he feared that such a bill could stir up a "dialogue of hate" against Arabs in Israel.

Similar proposals have been introduced into the Knesset in previous sessions but have not passed. However, Jafar Farah, director of the Haifa-based Arab advocacy organization Mossawa, said he would not be surprised if the law did pass given the current political climate vis a vis Arabs in Israel. "The ongoing efforts of extremists in the government to complicate the Middle East conflict with confrontations with our community are alarming," Farah said. "Thoughts and feelings will soon be forbidden in the State of Israel," he said. "It reminds us of the McCarthyism in the US and it's about time to show the leaders of the extreme right wing how humanity treats civilians."

Source

It should be noted that this idea comes from a political party which represents mainly Jewish emigrants from Russia. In a number of ways they do seem to have brought Russian attitudes with them.