Baruch Marzel
Baruch Marzel (Hebrew: ברוך מרזל) is an Israeli far-right politician.[1][2][3] Marzel, an American-born Orthodox Jew, lives in the Jewish community of Hebron in Tel Rumeida with his wife and nine children. He is the leader of the Religious Zionism-orientated Jewish National Front party. He claims he was the "right hand man" of assassinated Rabbi Meir Kahane, acting as spokesman for the American Rabbi's Kach organization for ten years[4] until it was outlawed in Israel and the US as a terrorist organization.
Political Activity
The Supreme Court of Israel deemed Kach "racist" and disqualified it from the 1988 elections because it advocated the forced expulsion of the Arab Palestinians from Israel.[5][6]
Marzel was elected head of the Kach movement's secretariat after Kahane was assassinated in New York. A splinter group from Kach, Kahane Chai, was led by Kahane's son Binyamin Ze'ev Kahane. In 1994 both groups were designated terrorist organisations in Israel and the US following the groups’ statements in support of Baruch Goldstein’s massacre of 29 Palestinians in Hebron.[7]
In 2003, Marzel joined Herut and Paul Eidelberg's Yamin Israel party to become the number two candidate on the party list, after Michael Kleiner, in the bid to enter the 16th Knesset session. The election advertisements featured him prominently with the traditional Hebrew saying "Hazak U'Baruch" (literally strong and blessed, Hebrew: חזק וברוך), a pun on Marzel's first name. Herut narrowly missed the minimum number of votes needed to enter the Knesset.
In 2004, he founded the Jewish National Front and headed its Knesset list in the 2006 elections. During the election campaign, Marzel called on the Israeli military to "carry out a targeted killing against (left-wing figure) Uri Avneri and his leftist collaborators."[8] This came in reaction to Avneri earlier saying on Israeli radio station Kol Israel that the assassination of Israeli tourism minister Rehavam Zeevi was a Palestinian "targeted killing," like the Israeli military's "targeted killings" of Palestinian political leaders. According to Gush Shalom, "the radio did not quote [Avneri's] next words: 'I am against all assassinations, both by Israelis and Palestinians.'"[9]
Ultimately the Jewish National Front received 24,824 votes (0.79%), less than half the minimum 2% required to enter the Knesset.
In 2009, after fellow party member Michael Ben-Ari won a seat in Knesset on the National Union (Israel) list, Marzel agreed to serve as Ben-Ari's parliamentary aid, along with Itamar Ben Gvir.
Criminal Activity
According to a 2003 report in the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, "Marzel had acquired a police record of some 40 files before he was 30".[10] The report goes on to detail his criminal record, including assaults on Palestinians (one earning him a 12-month suspended prison sentence), an Israeli police officer and Israeli left-wing activist and journalist Uri Avnery.
Controversies
Marzel has also advocated violence towards homosexuals in Israel, calling for a religious war against them during a radio interview. In 2006, in the days leading up to a planned gay pride parade in Jerusalem, Marzel reportedly stated that "The stabbing incident during last year's parade will seem minor in comparison with what is anticipated this year. We have to declare a holy war".[11] Marzel also was involved in the controversial March 2009 flag parade through Umm al-Fahm.
Marzel has named Pope Benedict XVI as a leading defendant in a criminal complaint before a Jerusalem court. [12]
Notes
- ^ http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3670568,00.html
- ^ http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/696472.html
- ^ http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1150885973752&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
- ^ "Barch Marzel - C.V. and Highlights of his Public Activities". Retrieved 2006-05-07.
- ^ "Council on Foreign Relations: Kach, Kahane Chai (Israel, extremists)". Retrieved 2006-05-08.
- ^ "Center for Defense Information, 1 October 2002: In the Spotlight: Kach and Kahane Chai". Retrieved 2008-01-11.
- ^ Country Reports on Terrorism 2004: April 2005 US Department of State
- ^ "Marzel to cabinet: Kill left-wing leader". Retrieved 2006-05-07.
- ^ http://www.redress.btinternet.co.uk/gush_shalom15.htm
- ^ ""Israel: Article Profiles Kakh Activist, Knesset Election Candidate Barukh Marzel" via a Foreign Broadcast Information Service report, Jan. 3, 2003". Retrieved 2006-11-11.
- ^ "J'lem gay pride parade may be put on hold over security alert". Retrieved 2006-11-15.
- ^ Pope visit unites Israel gays, far-right
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