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Palest<strong>in</strong>ians dur<strong>in</strong>g the Nakba. Source: Palest<strong>in</strong>ehouse.com<br />
similar declarations. Needless to say, such stipulations<br />
contribute to the delegitimisation of Arab political leaders<br />
<strong>and</strong> the communities they represent. There are new laws<br />
threaten<strong>in</strong>g imprisonment to any one who dares deny<br />
that Israel is Jewish <strong>and</strong> democratic. Similar laws are<br />
be<strong>in</strong>g discussed that will prohibit anyone from advocat<strong>in</strong>g<br />
a bi-national state <strong>and</strong> yet another to imprison for 3<br />
years anyone mourn<strong>in</strong>g the “Nakba”. These have been<br />
described as “a factory of racist laws with a dist<strong>in</strong>ct fascist<br />
odor.” 45<br />
Arabs also face discrim<strong>in</strong>ation before the law with regard<br />
to judicial sentences <strong>and</strong> judgments. Reports show that<br />
Palest<strong>in</strong>ians are given 20-30times harsher punishments<br />
than Jews when committ<strong>in</strong>g the same crimes. In some<br />
<strong>in</strong>stances Palest<strong>in</strong>ians were given sentences of up to five<br />
Israeli Racism <strong>in</strong> Theory <strong>and</strong> Practice<br />
38 Middle East Monitor | A Report | October 2009
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