Knesset advances bill making Israel a ‘Jewish state’
Middle East Monitor, May 2, 2018
Israel’s
Knesset, or parliament, on Tuesday approved a preliminary reading of a
controversial bill that considers Israel “the nation-state of the
Jewish people”.
Knesset, or parliament, on Tuesday approved a preliminary reading of a
controversial bill that considers Israel “the nation-state of the
Jewish people”.
 |
|
Member of
the Knesset Haneen Zoabi |
Proposed
by the right-wing Likud party, the “Jewish nation” bill was passed in the first
reading by 64-50 votes.
by the right-wing Likud party, the “Jewish nation” bill was passed in the first
reading by 64-50 votes.
The bill
must be approved in the second and third readings before it becomes law.
must be approved in the second and third readings before it becomes law.
The draft
considers Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and Hebrew as the
official language.
considers Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and Hebrew as the
official language.
It also
states that the justice system would prefer Israel’s Jewish character to
its democratic one in cases where the two are at odds.
states that the justice system would prefer Israel’s Jewish character to
its democratic one in cases where the two are at odds.
Knesset
member Avi Dichter, one of the sponsors of the bill, said the draft would, for
the first time, enshrine Israel as “the national home of the Jewish
people”.
member Avi Dichter, one of the sponsors of the bill, said the draft would, for
the first time, enshrine Israel as “the national home of the Jewish
people”.
The bill
has drawn a storm of criticism from Arab Knesset members, who described the
bill as “racist”.
has drawn a storm of criticism from Arab Knesset members, who described the
bill as “racist”.
“The
draft law states that there are two types of citizens: Jewish people with full
rights and another group which is allowed to stay but without rights,” Arab
Knesset member Ahmad Tibi said.
draft law states that there are two types of citizens: Jewish people with full
rights and another group which is allowed to stay but without rights,” Arab
Knesset member Ahmad Tibi said.
“If it is
not racism, I do not know what racism is,” he added.
not racism, I do not know what racism is,” he added.
Knesset
member Haneen Zoabi said the bill “proves that the Knesset itself recognizes
that there is no realistic possibility for a Jewish and democratic state at the
same time”.
member Haneen Zoabi said the bill “proves that the Knesset itself recognizes
that there is no realistic possibility for a Jewish and democratic state at the
same time”.
“This
country has to choose, and for the past 70 years it has chosen to be Jewish
rather than democratic,” Zoabi said in a statement.
country has to choose, and for the past 70 years it has chosen to be Jewish
rather than democratic,” Zoabi said in a statement.
“Israel cannot
speak on behalf of the Jews of the world, nor in the name of the people of this
country,” she said. “Israel can only speak in the name of Zionism and its
colonial orientation and racist values.”
speak on behalf of the Jews of the world, nor in the name of the people of this
country,” she said. “Israel can only speak in the name of Zionism and its
colonial orientation and racist values.”
In
reaction to the move, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry said the draft law
supports the “racist regime” and is contradictory to “international law
and human principles”.
reaction to the move, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry said the draft law
supports the “racist regime” and is contradictory to “international law
and human principles”.
The
ministry stressed in a written statement that the draft law “strengthened the
racist and discriminatory regime and marginalized the Palestinians and Arabs
living in Israel as well as violating international laws and human principles”.
ministry stressed in a written statement that the draft law “strengthened the
racist and discriminatory regime and marginalized the Palestinians and Arabs
living in Israel as well as violating international laws and human principles”.
The
statement noted the bill will negatively affect all aspects of Palestinians’
lives, adding the bill did not define Israel’s borders and was open-ended in
accordance with the policy of expanding settlements.
statement noted the bill will negatively affect all aspects of Palestinians’
lives, adding the bill did not define Israel’s borders and was open-ended in
accordance with the policy of expanding settlements.
Aside
from Palestinians in Israeli-occupied territories, there are roughly 1.4
million Arab citizens of Israel.
from Palestinians in Israeli-occupied territories, there are roughly 1.4
million Arab citizens of Israel.
