Israeli debate on biometric database melts down when MP starts screaming at blogger for videoing the proceedings
ח"כ מאיר שיט-רית רוצה מאגר ביומטרי אבל מגרש צלם מהדיון (Thanks, Jonathan!)I'm Jonathan and one of the bloggers for the Israeli Blogger Coalition against the biometric database. Our government is currently pushing, with heavy pressure from certain corporations, to establish a national mandatory biometric database. Today, I went with Eran Vered, a fellow blogger and video producer to video the hearing about the biometric database in the Israeli Parliament (Knesset).
After around half an hour of filming, the staff from the Immigration Authority (coming to lobby the database) noted that Eran can film them as well and passed a note (shown on video). A few minutes afterwards, Eran was "Excused" out of the hearing, where former minister of Interior, Meir Sheetrit, who is the champion for the database, suddenly screamed for no apparent reason.
While Eran did have a special permission to film in the Knesset (as you cannot enter it with any camera without that permission) it seems quite strange.
Sheetrit's anger towards Eran was unexplainable, as he is eager to pass this bill into law without any public debate. The bill itself allows confidential regulation and confidential procedures for use of the database and that are not subjected to any public review.
I'd be more than glad if you can help us promote our struggle against this bill.
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While I do support the coalition against the biometric database, I have to ask: is this the video where the Interior Minister is supposedly "screaming"?
My Hebrew isn't that good, but it only seems like he barely raised his voice--if that.
Hardly screaming.
Keeping an eye on people is OK, provided it's unilateral.
Maybe it is a cultural thing, but I don't see any screaming.
Unless the screaming came after the blogger shut his camera off?
There's a subtle, little throat-slit move at 1:52.
So where was this screaming again?
He raised his voice briefly, but that's pretty normal (speaking from first-hand experience) in meetings in that part of the world
Screaming?
Is that "screaming" in the same way that a bit of shoving is "beating the shit out of"?
This video is not NEARLY as exciting as the headline promises! While he may have spoken sharply, he certainly did not scream - and I observed no meltdown.
Lost in translation?
What is it with Governments, corporations and these frigging biometric databases? What I fear is that once one state gets one, the rest will believe they have to follow suit ("mine is bigger than yours").
I don't think the volume or tone of minister Sheetrit's voice should be thee focus of this discussion.
The fact is that Israel is in the process of legislating a(nother) very concerning law, and not enough is being done to prevent it.
Is it Sarkozi's character that made the HADOPI more popular on international sites? What is it about New Zealand that made us all blacken our facebook images in solidarity? what is it about Canadian copyright that got us all involved?
And what do we, as Israelis, need to do to get the same international grassroots support on these matters of IP and privacy?
An Israeli Parliamentarian is known as a "MK" not a "MP".
An Israeli national mandatory biometric database?
Does no one here see the irony? I can well imagine who they want it to be mandatory for first. Non-Jewish residents perhaps?
Will they also give out free numbered arm tattoos as well?
Last year, I heard a dilly of an argument when I was at the Western Wall for morning prayers last year. It was in those rooms to the left, where there seems to be some hardcore interpreting and theorizing going on. One guy seemed VERY sure of his position on something or other, and had another 4 around him trying to change his mind.
Or maybe they were trying to talk him out of detonating his vest. In any case, being a good 'ol Prairie Canadian boy, THAT level of heated exchange, without it coming to blows... I've never experienced that before.
I don't understand Hebrew, but I did hear the words "Trek" & "Wars" mentioned a few times.
Hard to know who was right, but it was quite the display of certainty.
Sorry, long preamble. Unless he SAID something (like "destroy his camera, destroy ALL MEDIA!! Buwahaha haha") then I don't get it.
I don't speak Hebrew, but I've seen sessions of the Knesset on CSPAN with real screaming and shouting. This should be retitled with a title that says what is relevant about the event.
Rough translation of MK Shitrit's sudden decision to banish the cameraman:
Shitrit: Excuse me, cameraman. I don't know who you are. I was asked, earlier, prior to the meeting, whether or not filming will be permitted and I said no, sp please leave.
Eran (Cameraman): I won't argue-
Shitrit: Please leave. It is "a chutzpah" [ed: something both wrong/arrogant/presumptuous] that you were told not to film and you entered [the room] anyway. Take your camera with you and leave.
Shitrit (to secretary): please look into who this Eran is, and report on this matter to the Head of the Knesset.
I agree that "screaming" is a too strong word. but the issue is still the same. a debate that is strongly connected too the issue of privacy which is being blocked from public view by arbitrary decision of shitrit. (if eran had permit to film why did he sent him of the room). and his choice of words is weird. the finale sentence you hear says: "and I want you to check who this eran is and who let this thing in to the room".
Yeah, this post would be interesting if there were some actual screaming, and some English translation in that video... Now it is pretty much a waste of time.
Sheetrit definitely wasnt shouting. That statement passes as barely a whisper by Israeli standards.
The translation by IdanGazit above is accurate. Unfortunately in Israel they manage to block filming like this often. There are few rights given to those trying to document something the government is doing. I imagine many people there are in favour of a Biometric database (to help catch the bad guys/arabs/dark people/boogiemen) and so the discussion is likely skewed from the outset. I imagine this bill will be passed :(
Things like this are the reason I moved away from Israel last year. Apologies if my hebrew is rusty, its been a year or so since I heard it but heres a slightly fuller translation:
Writing on screen: MK Meir Sheetrit wants a biometric database but expels a cameraman with the excuse 'its forbidden to film'
Guy with ponytail: When we discussed access for banks, the bank, once it has recieved identification of a citizen, can have a biometric database of its own. and this type of management of biometric data is currently legal
Next guy: Still there is no western country that has biometric databases
MK Sheetrit: not true
Next guy again: There was an australian...
MK Sheetrit: This is one of the things that isnt true. You are misleading the people. Many countries
Woman: Switzerland france and italy
MK Sheetrit: Switzerland france and italy. check that yourselves. Check. You are saying things that arent true.
guy writes on note: There is a camera behind you and it is directed towards you...
Argument/discussion about wrong info.....
Another guy: The mistake some of the people here are making in going directly against the idea of a biometric database:
** Translation from IdanGazit above **
Shitrit: Excuse me, cameraman. I don't know who you are. I was asked, earlier, prior to the meeting, whether or not filming will be permitted and I said no, sp please leave.
Eran (Cameraman): I won't argue-
Shitrit: Please leave. It is "a chutzpah" [ed: something both wrong/arrogant/presumptuous] that you were told not to film and you entered [the room] anyway. Take your camera with you and leave.
Shitrit (to secretary): please look into who this Eran is, and report on this matter to the Head of the Knesset.
**/ Translation from IdanGazit above **
Writing on screen after video:
MK Meir Shitreet is scared of cameras but wants all our biometric details to go into one big file that will freely circulate worldwide
he wrote: "be aware, there's a photographer behind you".
The MP was mad since he said "no video" before the meeting and he was filming anyway
@10
You've got my support. This sounds insane.
I do think we should be careful with sensationalist journalism (with all due respect, Cory), because of just this kind of thing. The story is bad enough, but when people think it's going to be worse, they sort of relax into what's actually there. WHICH DOES NOT SOUND RELAXING.
Anarchists Against the Wall!
I've always said, our two countries (i am an american) must have the worst reps in the global north, but goddamn you got to give it up to the activists there. Had a snooty european get pushy with me on american political apathy and I got to bust out with, "Bet the FBI doesn't have a file on you, motherfucker." (for nonviolent anti-war activism, incidentally.)
@12
Oh, right. Missed that. Good point.
Mis-characterizing what's in the video doesn't help, no matter how worthy the cause. There is no screaming hear. Move along...
Wouldn't it just be cheaper to tatoo numbers on inside of Isreali citizen's wrists?
Oh wait...does it make me anti-Semetic if I point out how similar this is to Nazi practices?
@10 - Agree with your underlying point, but we have a right to be disappointed when the headline reads "Israeli debate on biometric database melts down when MP starts screaming at blogger for videoing the proceedings" and this is what we get. :-)
As much as I have to cringe at the whole "screaming/not screaming" discussion over a video where an MK kicks out a blogger for daring to video (with permission) a debate of wether to violate every Israeli citizen's right for biometric privacy or not, I'm going to have to chip in as someone who understands hebrew to note:
1)Yes, there's a "Lost in Translation" moment here as Screaming in hebrew is less intensive as Screaming in english. There's a translation wording failure.
2)Its not as much the VOLUME of his voice then his choice of words. He really berated the blogger for 'daring' to do this. This was, infact, a verbal meltdown.
I just wish that the poster of the video would have chosen to provide a subtitled video rather then pure hebrew video link for the foreign audience.
3)And for the anti-Israeli cynics: This biometric database is going against everyone with citizenship, not just "non jews". I'd say inb4godwin but it looks like i'm already too late.
article from the Jerusalem Post on the Israeli biometric database issue - http://bit.ly/lBSOp