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17 Shevat 5759 - Feb. 3, 1999 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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Dismiss Oded Alyagon

Israeli Judge Unleashes Attack on Those Who Dare to Differ

by Yated Ne'eman Staff

Be'er Sheva Magistrate Oded Alyagon has unleashed a storm of controversy after he denounced Orthodox Jews, among others, as "human-sized lice" who are trying "to take over the judicial system via brutal and relentless attacks and blood libels." His remarks shocked and disgusted Israelis of all political stripes for its unbridled hatred. High Court President Aharon Barak praised the judge's remarks. Spearheading demands for Alyagon's dismissal were United Torah Judaism Secretary General Rabbi Moshe Gafni, Transport Minister Shaul Yahalom, and the chairman of the Bar Association, attorney Dror Choter-Yishai. They were joined by attorneys from the southern region and the Central Committee of the Bar Association.

Alyagon's outburst came at a farewell ceremony for Judge Yitzhak Banai. "In recent years we have come to know huge lice who were mutated to look like hybridizations of poisonous snakes and long-clawed, sharp-fanged tigers," he said. "They have made it their goal to take over the judicial system for their own needs." Alyagon did not specify to whom he was referring, but he provided clear hints.

"These dangerous parasites come from three sources: from the classic criminal population," he ranted. "From large organizations that frequently require the services of the courts" (alluding, apparently, to the Bar Association), "and other circles who are blocked by the courts in their attempts to take over the leadership and the whole population."

The event was attended by hundreds of people and Chief Justice Barak. For his part, Barak, who considers himself among the "enlightened" population of the world, praised Alyagon's words as "well spoken."

Alyagon is no stranger to this controversy. About a year-and- a-half ago he aroused a storm when he said that judges have become "a marked target set by parasites to whom concepts such as the rule of law are essentially foreign."

He derided the Torah-observant community as "parasites who have never contributed one iota to the State, and whose goal is to take control of the judicial system, or terrorize it, so that they will be able to continue to take advantage of the State's resources undisturbed." "Even if we do not have ways of fighting these pests in a conventional manners, the judicial system can overcome them, and we must wage a constant and resolute war against these elements."

The Knesset Law Committee voted unanimously to denounce Alyagon's most recent outburst.

"A judge who uses such language, is perverting the law from the outset," Transport Minister Yahalom said. "He isn't objective, and chareidi people can't appear before him in court. "In his position as the president of the Magistrates Courts, he conveys this message to the judges who are subordinate to him. Indeed, it is possible to understand why confidence and respect for the judicial system is declining. The system must spit out such people,"he said.

Rabbi Moshe Gafni, who demanded that Alyagon be fired a year- and-a-half ago, called on Chief Justice Barak to take action. In a letter to Barak, Rabbi Gafni noted that "calling criminals by names is abhorrent not only to me, but to all cultured people. Criminals are tried in court and receive their punishment, and there is no justification for using such language in reference to them. "By the same token," he continued, "the use of such languages against various sectors of the community, when it is obvious at whom such expressions are aimed, must surely not be used by a judge. I once more demand the dismissal of Oded Alyagon."

The chairman of the Bar Association, attorney Dror Choter- Yishai told Yated Ne'eman that the influence of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Aharon Barak, is evident in Alyagon's remarks. "It is evident that the position and philosophy of Chief Justice Aharon Barak, has penetrated the judicial system very well, and has affected Alyagon too."

"A judge who compares humans to lice proves that he is unworthy of being a judge," he said. "One who is interested in waging a political battle over the image and values of the State of Israel...does not belong on the bench."

The chairman of the southern branch of the Bar Association, Attorney Daniel Gertner, was present during Alyagon's speech, and spoke after him. He had the internal fortitude to denounce Alyagon, saying it would have been better if such things hadn't been said. "We are not aiming at a civil war," he said. "The last time he spoke that way, was in Eilat, when he used the term `parasites,' aiming his words explicitly at the chareidi public," Mr. Gertner said. "This time, he included additional sectors, and added the expression `lice.' This isn't merely an attack, but a poisonous attack."


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