French philosopher Voltaire is attributed with the famous quote: “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” This is democracy’s ultimate test – the ability to listen to views we do not agree with and that may appear despicable to us.
The Americans say that everyone agrees on mothers and apple pie. Nobody speaks out against them, and therefore there is no need to safeguard the freedom of speech of those who endorse mothers and apple pie. On the other hand, it is harder to protect the freedom of speech of those who endorse views like the ones espoused by Hanin Zoabi, the Knesset member from Nazareth. Hence, this is where freedom of speech is tested.
We must look at reality bravely: MK Zoabi doesn’t like us. She sits at the Knesset yet she doesn’t want the Zionist state to exist. We can assume that she represents tens of thousands of voters.
Now, we must decide what’s better: Silencing her and assuming the risk that her positions and the thoughts of her tens of thousands of supporters will not change but shall remain secretive, under the surface, or allowing her to voice her opinions?
Badge of honor for Israel
As English philosopher John Stuart Mill said (and our High Court of Justice repeated many times,) the way to fight lies is to argue with them, rather than ban them. If we ban the voicing of dangerous views, they will continue to simmer like water in a kettle, until they produce an explosion. It is better for the vapors to evaporate and disappear.
Even if we forbid Zoabi to voice her positions, the notions she expresses will not disappear. Our enemies across the border, just like millions of Israel haters worldwide, express these views at thousands of podiums and we cannot silence them.
It is therefore better for us to prove to the world that we are a genuine democracy, which allows all voices to be heard. This makes us different than Syria and Iran. Here, people are not detained for merely voicing ideas, but rather, only for committing acts of terror.
The very fact that MK Zoabi’s voice can be heard openly, and that she can express her views abroad as well, is a badge of honor for the country; it proves that we are a real democracy.
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