Israel’s High Court of Justice overthrows the decision by a parliament committee that would have barred Arab political parties from participating in upcoming elections. Congratulations to Israel for demonstrating that their liberal institutions have the ability to check the discriminatory impulses of their legislative assembly — though the proposal came from ultra-nationalists, the committee that originally banned participation in a 26 to 3 vote was made up of representatives from all of Israel’s major political parties. No word yet on whether there is any evidence that the parties, which were accused of supporting terrorism, actually broke any law or supported any terrorists. Presumably it would be better if the Knesset left that question to the Israeli equivalent of the FBI?
— Tim Fernholz
