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The Israeli president on Tuesday raised an alarm over a bill seen as opening the door to the establishment of exclusively Jewish communities in the country.
Reuven Rivlin's comments marked a rare intervention in politics by the country's president.
He expressed his concerns in an open letter, stating a clause in the bill defining Israel as "the national house of the Jewish people."
The so-called law of the nation-state, that the government hopes that by the end of the month it could become part of the basic laws of the country that constitute a de facto constitution.
The clause criticized by Mr. Rivlin would allow the state " to authorize a community composed of persons of the same faith and nationality to maintain the exclusive character of that community. "
This was considered to allow cities to exclude Arab citizens, who represent about 17.5% of the population of Israel, or even other Jewish Communities.
Rivlin said the legislation "could harm the Jewish people in the world and in Israel, and could even be used as a weapon by our enemies."
He said that the bill could allow the establishment of cities that would exclude Jews of Middle Eastern origin, ultra-Orthodox Jews or homobaduals.
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