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Outgoing Jewish Agency chairman Natan Sharansky on a slammed controversial clause in the so-called Jewish State bill which is seen as opening the door to the establishment of Israeli communities where a certain religious or cultural lifestyle .
In a letter to MK Likud Amir Ohana, who heads the special committee with finalizing the bill, Sharansky said that while he agrees with the broader view of the proposed legislation, its details will widen the gap between US Jews – the majority of whom are non-Orthodox – and Israel.
"The State of Israel is a Zionist movement," he wrote. "While the nation-state law was originally intended to reinforce this principle, the most recent amendments are of great concern because they are wedges between Jews in Israel and the Diaspora."
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Clause 7B of the Likud-sponsored legislation, which the government hopes to have approved by the end of the month, would allow the state to "authorize a community composed of people having the same faith and nationality to maintain the exclusive character of that community. "
That portion of the text is seen to be allowed to exclude Arab citizens, or even other Jewish groups, and has come under criticism in Israel.
Committee chairman Amir Ohana leads the joint Knesset and Constitution Committee The National Lawyer, at the Knesset, on July 10, 2018. (Yonatan Sindel / Flash90)
"It is unfortunate that the changes in the text of the bill add to the controversy that has surrounded the issue in recent years. Judaism in the public sphere, "the outgoing Jewish Agency chairman said.
Sharansky called on members of the committee to amend the legi
He also pointed out that the proposed legislation, including its "revocation of the special status of the Arabic language," would serve those who support a boycott of Israel. While the government was working to defeat the boycott, it would be the same time be giving ammunition to the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement.
"Recently, the Knesset pbaded a number of laws Israel, but they were drafted and pbaded away with the opinion of those who actually fight the boycott as a daily act in the Diaspora, "he wrote.
He ended up with a call on the Knesset to be consulted with representatives of Diaspora Jewry before formulating the final version of the law.
Politicians, legal advisers and others have also proposed that the so-called Jewish state bill is discriminatory The President of Reuven Rivlin speaks at the annual memorial service for the victims of the Altalena attack, in Tel Aviv on May 30, 2018. (Marc Israel Sell em / Pool)
According to a Hadashot news report, Likud MKs were considered to change the text of the clause to a sentence that refers to international support for Jewish settlement on land "under its control."
Earlier on Tuesday, President Reuven Rivlin raised alarm over the bill, saying the legislation in its current form "could harm the Jewish people worldwide and in Israel, and could even be used as a weapon by our enemies."
"Do we want to support for the discrimination and exclusion of men and women based on their ethnic origin? "wrote in his letter to lawmakers, which he also sent to Benjamin Netanyahu, a vigorous backer of the bill.
the Jews of Middle Eastern origin, ultra-Orthodox Jews, or homobaduals.
Barricades erected at the entrance to the city of Bnei Brak to keep from entering on Shabbat, January 27, 2018 . (Tomer Neuberg / Flash90)
Knesset legal adviser Eyal Yinon also published a legal opinion Tuesday saying he believed that the clause could not be overturned by the Supreme Court and therefore "
Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit has also said he is opposed to the law in its current form and his deputy, Raz Nizri,
If pbaded, the law would become one.
Judaism is already mentioned throughout the country's laws, and religious authorities control many aspects of life, including marriage. But the 11 existing Basic Laws deal with the Knesset, the courts and the presidency, while Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty defines Israel's democratic character.
The bill was first put forward by Likud MK Avi Dichter in 2014 , aim, facing criticism from both opposition members and liberal-minded members of his own party, it was shelved soon after. Since then, a number of versions of the legislation have been drafted by right-wing lawmakers,
The latest version pbaded its first Knesset reading in May and was given a boost Sunday by Netanyahu, Knesset session ends on July 22.
Netanyahu told ministers that he wanted the bill pbaded in its current form, saying that it included compromises made to his coalition partners.
In addition to the clause on exclusive communities, the law would also be set forth in the official language of Israel. Arabic would be relegated from an official language to one with "special status," which would ensure its speakers the "right to accessible state services."
The law would also state that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, make explicit the connection between Diaspora Jewry and the state, and the day of remembrance and Jewish holidays
