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The law on the "nation-state of the Jewish people" continues to be controversial. Lastly, two Israeli ministers called for amendments to the text to take into account the members of the Druze minority. The latter consider that the law makes them "second-clbad citizens". Adopted a week ago by the Israeli Parliament, the text states that the establishment of "Jewish localities (on Israeli territory) is in the national interest" – a controversial article that was later amended – and made Hebrew the only official language of the country, whereas the Arabic had previously an identical status.
The Druze, who live mainly in Galilee, in the north of Israel, speak Arabic and profess a faith derived from a very heterodox Islam. They are full citizens of Israel, their leaders having an alliance with Zionist leaders even before the creation of Israel. Unlike Israeli Arabs, they serve in the army and are particularly numerous among career soldiers and police. Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon on Thursday (July 26th) ruled on public radio that the text, adopted a week ago, "was hurried through and had to be amended."
"The last thing we want, it is harming the Druze community, "said Kahlon, leader of the center-right Koulanou party, the second largest political force in the coalition of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. On Wednesday, July 25, Minister of Education Naftali Bennett, leader of the Jewish Foyer religious nationalist party, said in a tweet that the law in its current form was "very detrimental" for the Druze "and whoever linked his fate to that of the Jewish state. "
Read also. The day Israel withdrew the word "democracy" from its basic law
"Our brothers"
"These are our brothers with whom we fight side by side on the battlefield (…) we have a responsibility to find a way to bridge the gap (with them ). A meeting on the subject is scheduled in the afternoon between Druze deputies Benjamin Netanyahu, Moshe Kahlon and Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman. Officials from the Druze community, which has more than 130,000 members in Israel, have launched a campaign to protest against a law they believe is turning them into "second-clbad citizens". They announced a major demonstration Saturday (August 4th) in the center of Tel-Aviv.
The most controversial article of the law, which evoked the possibility of creating localities exclusively reserved for Jews, excluding in particular Israeli Arab citizens, has already been amended. Israeli Arabs are the descendants of Palestinians who remained on their lands when Israel was created in 1948. They represent 17.5% of the Israeli population, overwhelmingly Jewish, and claim to be victims of discrimination. The amended text specifies that "the State considers that the development of Jewish localities is in the national interest and that the State will take measures to encourage, advance and serve this interest". The law, which falls into the category of basic laws serving as the Constitution in Israel, also proclaims Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, including the Palestinian part of the city annexed by the Jewish state.
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