While driving to work yesterday, I heard a really disturbing story on KPCC (one of our local NPR stations here in LA). I found myself talking back to the radio (not that unusual), and cursing loudly.

Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, along with strong backing by the deputy speaker of the Israeli parliament, Yuli Edelstein, are reacting to an outbreak of violence in East Jerusalem by pushing legislation that proposes punishing the families of those responsible for any attacks.

The legislation would revoke citizenship of anyone in Israel who carries out an attack, or is an “active member” of a terrorist group (sounds vague…), relinquishing any state benefits to that persons family. Oh, and the right to carry out “home demolitions”- turns out they can just destroy your house if you married a psycho, or if you happen to be the innocent son or daughter of one.

Edlestein says,

Everyone who will consider acts of such nature would know that he’s not only damaging the victims of his attack; he’s also damaging his own family.

Not only is this a blatant human rights violation- to punish people who are not perpetrators of crime, but it is sends the clear message that a woman (or child, for that matter) has no other measure of value other than her relationship to a man. It even means that a woman has no rights of her own- and will be judged not by  her adherence to laws, but by a completely separate person.

Ziad al-Hammouri, director of the Jerusalem Center for Social and Economic Rights has weighed in on the subject (thank god),

Hammouri called Israeli proposals to get tough with family members of attackers racist, vindictive and part of a long-standing pattern of Israeli discrimination against Arab East Jerusalemites.

Yeah, now this is starting to make sense.

This kind of scare tactic doesn’t get us (collective “us”) anywhere. Even threats of punishment for oneself don’t keep people from carrying out acts of violence, particularly those motivated by desperation.  What this really is: a completely unjust threat to destroy the lives of innocent people for crimes of others. I sure as shit hope that the United Nations weighs in on this and keeps any such legislation from passing.

To read Eric Westervelt’s full piece for KPCC, go here.