An arab tv show on Israel TV .. about as honest as you can get

[Baruch Menachem]

Arab Labor is the name of a show on Israeli TV that shows the life of an upper middle class arab israeli family and how they live day to day in Israel. The show demonstrates the petty discrimination, smarmy hypocrisy and day to day difficulties of being a minority in a socialist state.

the term Arab Labor is an insult in Hebrew. It means sloppy and badly done work.

The show has got a lot of positive response in Israel and around the world, despite the pot shots at the status quo. It is hated in Palestinian areas as it is seen as a cop out and a sell out, mostly from folks who don't watch.

The actors themselves say that much of the script comes from daily life for them.

Clips are available on You tube.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1zNSuU_IVg&feature=related"]This is a CNN report on the program.[/ame]

 

[JStone]

Dr. Wafa Sultan, Human Rights Activist, Among "Time magazine's 100 heroes and pioneers whose power, talent or moral example is transforming our world"Wafa Sultan - The 2006 TIME 100 - TIME.

Israel - The One And The Only Free Democratic Country In The Entire Middle East.

I believe that any nation that grants equal opportunity to every citizen, regardless of race, religion, political affiliation, or gender, thereby, establishes its moral legitimacy. According to this principle, Israel stands alone in the Middle East region, as a nation with moral legitimacy: it grants all citizens equal rights for men and women alike, freedom of religion, and freedom of speech and of the press. Not a single Arab or Muslim country in the surrounding region does the same. Nor do any of those Arab and Muslim nations allow their citizens personal freedom, or the right to maintain and express opposing points of view.

These essential qualities of life provide oxygen for the human soul; they are the kind of basic nourishment that is desperately missing in all of Israel's Muslim neighbors. Yet, the so-called humanitarian aid organizations at the United Nations direct all their energy to act against anything and everything Israel does. Let me ask: as every human being deserves to live in dignity, why has an enormous unbalanced portion of global aid gone mostly to Palestinians, while millions of underprivileged people all over the world suffer genuine, life-threatening deprivation? Here is why: The United Nations time and again focuses its power on the perpetual manufacturing of false anti-Israel accusations. Painting Palestinians as perennial underdogs provides the perfect cover for their subversive effort. Without doubt, this trend encourages hatred and violence against the Jewish people in Israel and everywhere else. And that is exactly its point.

A Palestinian women's organization reported that Muslim men perpetrate some 40 honor killings annually in the West Bank alone, not including the vast majority of honor killing and abuse of women that go unreported -- as Islamic society maintains secrecy in upholding the popular belief that those "cursed with a sin, [should] hide it."

According to recent face-to-face surveys by prominent international pollsters, more Palestinians in East Jerusalem would prefer to be citizens of Israel than citizens of a new Palestinian state -- and 40% would probably or definitely move to avoid Palestinian rule.

Those who love liberty and life will strengthen their ties and warm relations with Israel, and stand with her. Israel will continue to shine its light among all nations.

The United Nations and Human Rights Abuse | EuropeNews

 

[JStone]

Tashbih Sayyed, Muslim Pakistani scholar, journalist, and author and former Editor in Chief of Our Times, Pakistan Today, and The Muslim World Today Muslim World Today: Front Page 1222005

A Muslim In A Jewish Land

I do not believe that anyone but a committed anti-Semite will deny that Israel is not a democracy. Democracy in Israel is proportional and representative...The object of a free and democratic Israeli society is to reach satisfactory compromise but often the conclusions are less than satisfactory - especially for the majority. It involves coalitions and unity which are also checks and balances on any potential abuse of minority rights. It is a better system than the American Representative Republican system - which is really a representation of power and special interests. In the U.S. you get a democracy for the few. In Israel you have a democracy for everyone.

Here, protected by Israel's democratic principles, the Muslim Arab citizens of Israel are afforded all the rights and privileges of Israeli citizenship. When the first elections to the Knesset were held in February 1949, Israeli Arabs were given the right to vote and to be elected along with Israeli Jews. Today, Israel's Arab citizens are accorded full civil and political rights entitled to complete participation in Israeli society. They are active in Israeli social, political and civic life and enjoy representation in Israel's Parliament, Foreign Service and judicial system.

As our air-conditioned bus negotiated the mountainous curves of the road to the heart of Galilee, I could not miss the rising minarets identifying a number of Palestinian Arab towns dotting the hillsides. The imposing domes of mosques underlined the freedoms that are enjoyed by the Muslims in the Jewish State. Large Arab residences, wide spread construction activity and big cars underlined the prosperity and affluence of Palestinians living under the Star of David

On my way from the city of David to the Royal Prima hotel in Jerusalem, I asked my Palestinian taxi driver how he feels about moving to the territories under Palestinian Authority. He said that he could never think of living outside Israel. His answer blasted the myth spread by anti-Semites that Israel's Arab citizens are not happy there.

Another Israeli Arab informed me that Arabs in Israel have equal voting rights. In fact, Israel is one of the few countries in the Middle East where Arab women can vote. In contrast to the non-Israeli Arab world, Arab women in Israel enjoy the same status as men. Muslim women have the right to vote and to be elected to public office. Muslim women, in fact are more liberated in Israel than in any Muslim country. Israeli law prohibits polygamy, child marriage, and the barbarity of female sexual mutilation.

Moreover, I found out that there are no incidences of honor killings in Israel. The status of Muslim women in Israel is far above that of any country in the region. Israeli health standards are by far the highest in the Middle East and Israeli health institutions are freely open to all Arabs, on the same basis as they are to Jews.

Arabic, like Hebrew, is an official language in Israel and underlines the tolerant nature of the Jewish State. All the street signs call out their names in Arabic alongside Hebrew. It is official policy of the Israeli government to foster the language, culture, and traditions of the Arab minority, in the educational system and in daily life. Israel's Arabic press is the most vibrant and independent of any country in the region. There are more than 20 Arabic periodicals. They publish what they please, subject only to the same military censorship as Jewish publications. There are daily TV and radio programs in Arabic.

Arabic is taught in Jewish secondary schools. More than 350,000 Arab children attend Israeli schools. At the time of Israel's founding, there was one Arab high school in the country. Today, there are hundreds of Arab schools. Israeli universities are renowned centers of learning in the history and literature of the Arab Middle East.

Aware of the constraints that a non-Wahhabi is faced with while performing religious rituals in Saudi Arabia, Kiran (my wife) could not hide her surprise at the freedoms and ease with which peoples of all religions and faiths were carrying out their religious obligations at the Church of the holy Sepulcher, Garden Tomb, Sea of Galilee, newly discovered Western Wall Tunnels, Western Wall, tomb of King David and all the other holy places we visited.

All religious communities in Israel enjoy the full protection of the State. Israeli Arabs—Muslims, as well as many Christian denominations—are free to exercise their faiths, to observe their own weekly day of rest and holidays and to administer their own internal affairs. Some 80,000 Druze live in 22 villages in northern Israel. Their religion is not accessible to outsiders and Druze constitute a separate cultural, social and religious Arabic-speaking community. The Druze concept of taqiyya calls for complete loyalty by its adherents to the government of the country in which they reside. As such, among other things, the Druze serve in the Israel Defense Forces. Each religious community in Israel has its own religious councils and courts, and has full jurisdiction over religious affairs, including matters of personal status, such as marriage and divorce. The holy sites of all religions are administered by their own authorities and protected by the government.
A Hindu journalist who came to visit me talked about the openness that Jewish society represents. He told me that more than 20% of the Israeli population is non-Jewish of which approximately 1.2 million are Muslims, 140,000 are Christians and 100, 000 are Druze. Another non-Jewish Israeli told me that Christians and Druze are free to join even the defense forces of the Jewish State. Bedouins have served in paratroops units and other Arabs have volunteered for military duty.

The big houses owned by Arab Israelis and the amount of construction that was going on in the Arab towns exposed the falsity of propaganda that Israel discriminates against Israeli Arabs from buying lands. I found out that in the early part of the century, the Jewish National Fund was established by the World Zionist Congress to purchase land in Palestine for Jewish settlement. Of the total area of Israel, 92 percent belongs to the State and is managed by the Land Management Authority. It is not for sale to anyone, Jew or Arab.

The Arab Waqf owns land that is for the express use and benefit of Muslim Arabs. Government land can be leased by anyone, regardless of race, religion or sex. All Arab citizens of Israel are eligible to lease government land.

I asked three Israeli Arabs if they face discrimination in employment. They all said the same thing; normally there is no discrimination but whenever homicide bombers explode and murder Israelis, some Israelis feel uncomfortable dealing with them. But that uncomfortable feeling is also very temporary and does not stay for long.

My first visit to Israel has not only consolidated my belief that Israel is vital for the stability of the region but has also convinced me that the existence of Israel will one day convince the Muslims of the necessity of reformation in their theology as well as sociology.

Looking at the development and transformation that the land has gone through because of the Jewish innovative spirit, hard labor and commitment to freedoms for all times to come, I am convinced that it is true that God created this earth but it is also a fact that only an Israel can keep this earth from dying.

 

[hipeter924]

Israel has Jewish fundamentalists, and certainly them not having to pay tax or contribute to the war effort is outrageous (especially to mainstream Jews, the non-religious, and followers of other faiths) while they force everyone else in the country to pay tax to support them and contribute to military service. Certainly they are trying as well to segregate men and women on buses (as they have done in Jerusalem), and bring that to other parts of the country. But I don't think that is any worse than America's Christian fundamentalists.

I would prefer a more secular Israel, but its hardly the evil state it is portrayed as. Just look at Europe and there is persecution of gypsies, large neo-nazi movements , cossacks, Islamic extremists, 'white power' like organizations, and racial hatred gone violent. Whereas Israel has managed to keep its multicultural society intact and promote tolerance, despite the fact just across the border there are several hostile Islamic theocracies calling for its destruction.

 

[JStone]

I would prefer a more secular Israel

You're allowed to be dumb

Israel is a secular state

There are religious Jews and Christians and other faiths in the US. Does that mean America is not secular?

 

[P F Tinmore]

Israel has Jewish fundamentalists, and certainly them not having to pay tax or contribute to the war effort is outrageous (especially to mainstream Jews, the non-religious, and followers of other faiths) while they force everyone else in the country to pay tax to support them and contribute to military service. Certainly they are trying as well to segregate men and women on buses (as they have done in Jerusalem), and bring that to other parts of the country. But I don't think that is any worse than America's Christian fundamentalists.

I would prefer a more secular Israel, but its hardly the evil state it is portrayed as. Just look at Europe and there is persecution of gypsies, large neo-nazi movements , cossacks, Islamic extremists, 'white power' like organizations, and racial hatred gone violent. Whereas Israel has managed to keep its multicultural society intact and promote tolerance, despite the fact just across the border there are several hostile Islamic theocracies calling for its destruction.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enTbBx622-8]85 sleepless Gaza Jerusalem.divx - YouTube[/ame]

 

[JStone]

The show demonstrates the petty discrimination, smarmy hypocrisy and day to day difficulties of being a minority in a socialist state.

Warren Buffett...

We believe generally in the United States, we believe in ourselves and what a young country can achieve. Israel, since 1948, now a major factor in commerce and in the world. It's a smaller replica of what has been accomplished here and I think Americans admire that. They feel good about societies that are on the move.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaN_2nFqFtI]Warren Buffet Supports the U.S.-Israel Relationship - YouTube[/ame]


Warren Buffett Invests $4 Billion In Successful Israeli Company, Iscar...

Iscar is exceptional. I can give you an absolute, unequivocal answer You can go around the world and it's very impressive when a country of 7 million people turns out a business like this. I haven't seen anything like this in the United States. We were measuring Iscar against everything we see in the world.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7eb-fjQw5k]Warren Buffet in Israel - www.themarker.com - YouTube[/ame]

 

[JStone]

As Honest As You Can Get

Arab Author Anwar Malek...

The Arabs are afflicted with fantasies and obsolete bravado. False, empty bravado, which does no good to anybody. The Arabs invented or discovered the zero--but what did they do with it? Some of them sat on it, some put it on their heads, while others wore it around their waists and began shaking their hips, their belies, and their breasts in order to sell to the world the idea that modern Arabs are doing something

Today, the Arabs constitute nothing but thousands of zeros to the left. The Arabs have lost their worth, their humanity, their culture, and everything. There is nothing to suggest that the Arabs can be relied upon to produce anything. This false bravado is deeply rooted in the Arabs to an unimaginable degree. It is so deeply rooted that the Arabs believe they can go to the moon. If you asked your viewers whether the Arabs would be able to reach the moon by 2015, they would say, "Yes, the Arabs will get to the moon" By Allah, the Arabs will not go more than a few hundred kilometers from their doorsteps.

In all honesty, the Arabs are backward and are not fit for civilization at all. I am talking about the Arabs of today who have begun to export shawarma, falafel and lupin beans to Europe and they purport to be bringing something Arab to Europe

the reality of the Arabs is one of defeat, hitting rock bottom We are defeated, politically and militarily and economically, socially, and even psychologically. We have a discourse of conspiracy, and we blame everything on others. Take Egypt--What does Egypt--that superpower--have to offer? Nothing, it is incapable of doing anything. It has nothing but lupin beans. It is incapable of anything.

Look at how the Arabs live in the West. By Allah, they are a bad example. If you hear about thieves, they are always Arabs. Whenever a young man harasses a girl on the streets of London or Paris, he turns out to be an Arab. All the negative moral values are to be found in the Arab individual

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYgrziadQIo]Algerian author Anwar Malek talks about the arab world. - YouTube[/ame]

 

[ekrem]

Israel is a secular state

Then why are there buses on Israel's streets with gender separation ?

 

[JStone]

Israel is a secular state

Then why are there buses on Israel's streets with gender separation ?

Why are the street signs also in Arabic, stupid muslime?

 

[ekrem]

Israel is a secular state

Then why are there buses on Israel's streets with gender separation ?

Why are the street signs also in Arabic, stupid muslime?

Arabic street signs have nothing to do with being "secular". And being secular is what you claimed. But on Israel's streets are buses where religious gender separation takes place.

You are as secular as Wafa Sultan is transforming the world.

 

[JStone]

Then why are there buses on Israel's streets with gender separation ?

Why are the street signs also in Arabic, stupid muslime?

Arabic street signs have nothing to do with being "secular". And being secular is what you claimed. But on Israel's streets are buses where religious gender separation takes place.

You are as secular as Wafa Sultan is transforming the world.

Given Turkey and the rest of the muslime and arab shitholes are Islamist, maybe, fixate more on them than on Israel.

 

[ekrem]

Given Turkey and the rest of the muslime and arab shitholes are Islamist, maybe, fixate more on them than on Israel.

Turkey is not the issue here, but you won't see any gender-separated buses on Turkey's street, if that's what you wanted to know.

 

[JStone]

Given Turkey and the rest of the muslime and arab shitholes are Islamist, maybe, fixate more on them than on Israel.

Turkey is not the issue here, but you won't see any gender-separated buses on Turkey's street, if that's what you wanted to know.

Turkey has a lot of issues, muslime. Deal with them.

US condemns Turkey for Turks' role in genocide of 1 million Armenians and Turkey's denial of the Armenian holocaust
Over Turkish protests, House panel calls killing of Armenians 'genocide'

Turkey's Illegal Blockade of Armenia
Congressman Adam Schiff : 2008 : Schiff Introduces Bill Urging End to Turkish Blockade of Armenia

Turkey, Worst Human Rights Violator...

In an annual report released on Thursday, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), the top judicial body to rule on human rights violations in Europe, found that Turkey is by far the worst violator of human rights among the 47 signatory states of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Human rights violations in Turkey « European Court of Human Rights

US criticizes 'human rights violations' in Turkey

Unlawful killings, poor prison conditions, excessively long trials and limits on freedom of expression are among the alleged human-rights violations in Turkey that the U.S. State Department denounced in a recent report.

“Security forces committed unlawful killings; the number of arrests and prosecutions in these cases was low compared to the number of incidents, and convictions remained rare,” the State Department said late Friday in the section devoted to Turkey in its annual report on the status of human rights throughout the world.

U.S. officials also commented on the recent arrests of Turkish journalists, which came too late to be included in this report, saying they would be monitored and addressed in next year’s survey.

During the year human-rights organizations reported cases of torture, beatings and abuse by security forces. Prison conditions improved but remained poor, with overcrowding and insufficient staff training,” the State Department said in its 2010 human-rights report.

“The overly close relationship between judges and prosecutors continued to hinder the right to a fair trial. Excessively long trials were a problem. The government limited freedom of expression through the use of constitutional restrictions and numerous laws,” the State Department said.

“Press freedom declined during the year. There were limitations on Internet freedom. Courts and an independent board ordered telecommunications providers to block access to Web sites on numerous occasions,” it said in the report. “Violence against women, including honor killings and rape, remained a widespread problem.”

US criticizes 'human rights violations' in Turkey - Hurriyet Daily News

Human Rights Watch: Turkey does not protect rights of Kurds and women and places restrictions on internet
Turkey: Make Rights Reform a Priority | Human Rights Watch

Journalists detained in Turkey Without Due Process
Journalists held without due process in Turkey - Committee to Protect Journalists

Turkey's Occupation of Cyprus
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uvGnmpgzfg]The Turkish Invasion of Cyprus - YouTube[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcRTbALahIU]George Eugeniou denounces Turkey's occupation of Cyprus - YouTube[/ame]

 

[hipeter924]

I would prefer a more secular Israel

You're allowed to be dumb

Israel is a secular state

There are religious Jews and Christians and other faiths in the US. Does that mean America is not secular?

That is not what I meant, religion has a dangerous hold on America, just as it has a dangerous hold on Israel: 'Religion now more dangerous than Arabs' - Israel Jewish Scene, Ynetnews

 

[JStone]

I would prefer a more secular Israel

You're allowed to be dumb

Israel is a secular state

There are religious Jews and Christians and other faiths in the US. Does that mean America is not secular?

That is not what I meant, religion has a dangerous hold on America, just as it has a dangerous hold on Israel: 'Religion now more dangerous than Arabs' - Israel Jewish Scene, Ynetnews

Religion that brought the civilized world the 10 Commandments? Be afraid. Be very afraid.

 

[hipeter924]

You're allowed to be dumb

Israel is a secular state

There are religious Jews and Christians and other faiths in the US. Does that mean America is not secular?

That is not what I meant, religion has a dangerous hold on America, just as it has a dangerous hold on Israel: 'Religion now more dangerous than Arabs' - Israel Jewish Scene, Ynetnews

Religion that brought the civilized world the 10 Commandments? Be afraid. Be very afraid.

I am an atheist (and light secularist), so this doesn't interest me/scare me. Can't be afraid of something or hate something that doesn't exist. I have managed to live without religion, and have no problems with people who center their lives around faith and religion. I disagree with religion when it dictates the rights of other religions, religious sects and the non-religious. Israel wasn't built just for Jewish religious fundamentalists, but for the Jewish people.

 

[JStone]

That is not what I meant, religion has a dangerous hold on America, just as it has a dangerous hold on Israel: 'Religion now more dangerous than Arabs' - Israel Jewish Scene, Ynetnews

Religion that brought the civilized world the 10 Commandments? Be afraid. Be very afraid.

I am an atheist (and light secularist), so this doesn't interest me/scare me. Can't be afraid of something or hate something that doesn't exist. I have managed to live without religion, and have no problems with people who center their lives around faith and religion. I disagree with religion when it dictates the rights of other religions, religious sects and the non-religious. Israel wasn't built just for Jewish religious fundamentalists, but for the Jewish people.

Oh, you're an atheist, yet, you enjoy the liberty established by Jewish theists, right?

Torah: "Proclaim Liberty Throughout The Land" inscribed on the Liberty Bell Independence National Historical Park - Liberty Bell Center (U.S. National Park Service)

 

[hipeter924]

Religion that brought the civilized world the 10 Commandments? Be afraid. Be very afraid.

I am an atheist (and light secularist), so this doesn't interest me/scare me. Can't be afraid of something or hate something that doesn't exist. I have managed to live without religion, and have no problems with people who center their lives around faith and religion. I disagree with religion when it dictates the rights of other religions, religious sects and the non-religious. Israel wasn't built just for Jewish religious fundamentalists, but for the Jewish people.

Oh, you're an atheist, yet, you enjoy the liberty established by Jewish theists, right?

Torah: "Proclaim Liberty Throughout The Land" inscribed on the Liberty Bell Independence National Historical Park - Liberty Bell Center (U.S. National Park Service)

The only ' rights' religion brought was the right to burned at a stake, stoned to death, wear Lutheran condoms, and divorce.

Every right we have has come either in direct opposition to religious theocracy, or as a result of an issue totally unrelated to it. If Jewish theocrats (which apparently killed Jesus for religious dissent) invented democracy, and the republic, let me know. Last I checked it was the Greeks and Romans.

PS: It was secular ideals, and not a theist god that built America, rather a deist one.

 

[JStone]

I am an atheist (and light secularist), so this doesn't interest me/scare me. Can't be afraid of something or hate something that doesn't exist. I have managed to live without religion, and have no problems with people who center their lives around faith and religion. I disagree with religion when it dictates the rights of other religions, religious sects and the non-religious. Israel wasn't built just for Jewish religious fundamentalists, but for the Jewish people.

Oh, you're an atheist, yet, you enjoy the liberty established by Jewish theists, right?

Torah: "Proclaim Liberty Throughout The Land" inscribed on the Liberty Bell Independence National Historical Park - Liberty Bell Center (U.S. National Park Service)

The only ' rights' religion brought was the right to burned at a stake, stoned to death, wear Lutheran condoms, and divorce.

Every right we have has come either in direct opposition to religious theocracy, or as a result of an issue totally unrelated to it. If Jewish theocrats (which apparently killed Jesus for religious dissent) invented democracy, and the republic, let me know. Last I checked it was the Greeks and Romans.

PS: It was secular ideals, and not a theist god that built America, rather a deist one.

Constitutional Rights Foundation: The Hebrews and the Foundation of Western Law
The Ten Commandments and many other elements of Hebrew law provided a major source for the development of western legal systems and democracy.

Three thousand years ago, the ancient Hebrew people lived in the Near East in an area called Canaan. This ancient people developed the idea of monotheism, the belief in one god. They believed that their god gave them laws to regulate their society, their religious practices, and their relationships with other people.

Conquered by the neo-Babylonians and later by the Romans, the Hebrews eventually became a scattered people, living in many countries under different legal systems. But they continued to develop their own law and tried to follow it even in foreign lands. Their law was based on the Ten Commandments and other sacred writings, which today we find in the Hebrew Bible. In developing their law, they sometimes borrowed legal concepts from other civilizations as well as passing on their own ideas. The Jewish law that developed influenced Roman law, English law, and our own Declaration of Independence and Constitution.

Equality
The Torah teaches that God created Adam, the first human, as the father of all peoples. Thus, all humans are born equal and should be treated equally by the law. This is today recognized as a major principle of law.

The Rule of Law
The Torah does not recognize the idea of kings ruling by divine right. According to tradition, the Hebrew people made Saul their first king in 1030 B.C., when enemy nations threatened their survival. But Saul and the other Hebrew kings that followed him were never considered to be gods or high priests with the power to interpret God’s will.

Hebrew kings, like everyone else, had to obey the Ten Commandments and the other laws of the Torah. The written Torah, not the whims of kings, was considered the law of the land.

Majority Rule and Democracy
The Hebrew concept of majority rule comes from the Torah’s command to “follow the multitude.” The majority decided disputes among scholars on the meaning of God’s laws, the court decisions of judges, and the local acts of Jewish communities.

Since Jews lived under the rule of foreign nations after A.D. 70, they practiced only limited forms of self-government. By the 12th century, however, many countries permitted Jewish communities to elect local town councils, the “Seven Good Men of the City.” These councils, chosen by the majority of adult males, supervised religious, economic, educational, and charity activities. The entire community often decided important questions at a town meeting.

Freedom of Religion and Speech
Being born a Jew makes one obligated to follow the Torah. But Jews must do this freely. Non-Jews have the freedom to practice their own religions. Moreover, unlike most other religions, Judaism does not actively seek converts.

A tradition of free speech existed among the Hebrews. Hebrew prophets openly spoke out against their kings and the people for failing to follow the Torah. During the long history of disputes over the meaning of the Torah, no one was tried for heresy (going against religious doctrine). Also, while the majority decided matters of law, the minority had a chance to be heard and their opinions were often recorded.

Fair Trial
In Judea, the court system had three levels. The highest court was the Great Sandedrin, which had 71 judges. Lesser courts with 23 judges dealt with death penalty cases. Lower courts with three judges handled most civil and criminal matters. Most of these courts stopped functioning after the Romans destroyed the temple in Jerusalem. In countries where they were permitted to operate, however, three-judge courts continued to hand out justice in Jewish communities.

Many parts of the Torah, Talmud, and the codes of law that followed described due process procedures to ensure fair trials. Anyone accused of a crime had the right of bail except in death-penalty cases. Traditional Jewish courts had no trained lawyers arguing cases. The prosecutor was either the victim himself or, if he had been killed, a relative (“blood-avenger&#8221 or someone appointed by the court. The accused could defend himself or ask another to plead for him. Evidence included documents and the testimony of witnesses. The consistent testimony of two male witnesses to the crime was necessary to convict the accused. The judges closely cross-examined witnesses in the presence of the accused. Circumstantial evidence alone was never enough to find someone guilty. Witnesses who broke the commandment forbidding one to “bear false witness” faced the same penalty that the accused would have suffered. The accused had an absolute right against self-incrimination and was not permitted to make statements harmful to himself. Likewise, confessions were not admissible evidence in court. There was no jury. The judges deliberated with the accused looking on. The youngest judge spoke his opinion first in order to avoid being influenced by the senior judges. The judges then decided the verdict by majority vote

http://www.crf-usa.org/bill-of-rights-in-action/bria-16-4-a.html