A Christmas tree made of razor wire and tear gas grenades is displayed in Manger Square, Bethlehem as part of an activist art exhibit, December 21, 2013. The exhibit, titled, "Chic Art + Resistance" is a project by Brazilian-Palestinian artist Sami Musa and activist Mohammed Khatib. Their goal is to use art as a metaphor to talk about the Palestinian struggle against occupation. Tear gas canisters, razor wire, and sound bombs are used to capture the experiences of the activists struggling against the Israeli wall and settlements (Photo: Activestills)

Knesset speaker nixes Christmas tree

Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein (Likud) turned down on Sunday a request from a Hadash Knesset member to place a Christmas tree on prominent display in the parliament’s building.  MK Hanna Sweid (Hadash), sent a letter to the speaker Thursday urging him to order the placing of the Christmas tree “at the entrance [to the Knesset],…

The Knesset blanketed in snow December 12, 2013 (Photo: Knesset spokesperson)

Hadash MK calls for Knesset Christmas tree

Hadash member of Knesset called on Thursday for the Israeli parliament to host a Christmas tree that would honor Israel’s multiculturalism and its Christian minority. A Knesset spokesperson said the request was under consideration. MK Hana Sweid, who hails from the Galilee town of Eilaboun, sent a letter Thursday to Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein (Likud)…

"There is a very intense attack on the democratic sphere we have in Israel," MK Dov Khenin from Hadash told i24 News during an exclusive interview Sunday

MK Khenin warns against passage of anti-NGO bill

The anti-democratic and fascist NGO bill aimed at curtailing the activities of “anti-Israeli groups” in Israel passed a major hurdle on Sunday after being approved by the Ministerial Committee on Legislation. However, the bill still faces considerable opposition on several fronts. The bill, sponsored by MK Ayelet Shaked (Habayit Hayehudi) and Robert Ilatov (Likud-Beytenu), would force any…

Activists blocking a road in center Tel Aviv during a protest against the Prawer-Begin plan, last Saturday, December 7, 2013 (Photo: Activestills)

MK Barakeh: Prawer plan is a racist law

Former cabinet minister Benny Begin, who in the previous government was in charge of gathering and implementing right wing government proposals to Arab-Bedouin evictions, said on Monday that he never presented the bill to representatives of the Bedouin community and did not ask for their positions on the matter. The draft law is commonly known…

MK Dov Khenin (Photo: Al Ittihad)

Government rejects same-sex housing benefits law

The Ministerial Committee for Legislation unanimously rejected Sunday a bill that would enshrine in law married mortgage benefits for same-sex couples. The ministers saw “the proposal as unnecessary,” a cabinet statement said Sunday afternoon. The legislation was sponsored by MK Dov Khenin (Hadash).  “The time has come for equality to be anchored in distinct legislation,”…

Demonstrators run away from a police water canon track during a Day Of Rage protest against the Prawer-Begin Plan, Haifa, Israel, November 30, 2013 (Photo: Activestills)

Police demand media outlets turn over material from Prawer Plan protests

The Israel Police, in cooperation with prosecutors from the Southern District, filed eight indictments Monday against individuals authorities claim were involved in clashes Saturday during a demonstration against Israel’s controversial Arab-Bedouin eviction plan. Four of those detained and charged were minors, police said. Earlier Monday, indictments were filed against two youths who prosecutors said attacked police during…