NGOs Demand Cancellation of Nomination of Yoel Lavi – Known for Making Racist Statements against Arab Citizens – as Director of Israel Land Administration
On 10 March 2008, human rights and social change organizations sent an urgent letter to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, the Minister of Construction and Housing Ze'ev Boim and the Attorney General Menachem Mazuz demanding the cancellation of the candidacy of Yoel Lavi to the position of Director of the Israel Land Administration (ILA) on the grounds that, as the mayor of the mixed Arab-Jewish city of Ramle for the last fifteen years, he has made racist statements on numerous occasions against Arab citizens of Israel. Lavi's statements and racist opinions against Arabs have been met with protests, and the Hebrew and Arabic-language press have published articles and reports condemning his statements and declaring a lack of trust in him.
The organizations, which include Shatil's mixed cities project, al-Dar, Adalah, The Association for Distributive Justice, and the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, argued that Lavi's nomination as Director of the ILA is irrational and illogical and listed the problems associated with his nomination. The ILA is a governmental body, established under the law. Among its various responsibilities it the management of what are known as “state lands”, with honesty, integrity and sincerity, while abiding to the principle of just distribution.
As the organizations argued, “Yoel Lavi's opinions are without any doubt racist and hostile towards Arab citizens in general and the Arab residents of Ramle in particular. We question Lavi's ability to direct the ILA and to carry the burden of trust invested in the person who directs one of the most important and influential bodies in Israel.”
One of the most notorious racist remarks made recently by Lavi in 2006 came in response to a request made by an Arab citizens' group in Ramle to change the names of some city streets that now have Hebrew or Jewish names to Arabic names. When asked about the request, Lavi reportedly told reporter Ron Feinreich of the Ayalon newspaper, “Why should I change the name, because Jamal wants to change the name? Because Ahmad wants to change the name? He should change his god. They all should go get [expletive deleted]. ... If Arabs don't like it, they can go to Jaljulia.”
Mr. Lavi ran and was elected mayor of Ramle as a member of the Likud political party and in March 2006 he switched his affiliation and became a member of Kadima. He is clearly a political figure, whose opinions and party affiliations are not conducive or appropriate for a position that requires dealing with requests and applications from the public.
The organizations further argued that the logic governing democratic and sound governance dictates the appointment of a person who possesses the ability to avoid and avert problems arising from discriminatory and arbitrary policies. “The person who holds this position must be decent, professional and neutral (i.e., not aligned with a political party), as a person without these characteristics will be unable to obtain the trust of citizens. Therefore, the appointment of Yoel Lavi to this position, given that the issue of land lies at the heart of the Arab-Israeli conflict, contradicts common sense, and the principle of democratic and sound governance.”
