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JERUSALEM – Nationalist law declaring Israel a national homeland for the Jewish people and giving priority to Jewish communities only was voted on Thursday amid a series of controversial bills approved by lawmakers Israeli this week. have been described by critics as undemocratic or even draconian.
The laws, dealing with a wide range of topics related to the Jewish character of the state to the reduction of leftist groups criticizing the government's policies towards the Palestinians, are widely regarded as an attempt by the prime minister. Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to appease his right-wing government and his supporters.
But, they could have profound implications for Israel's non-Jewish minority, weaken the rights of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and delegitimize those in Israel who defend them.
The law of the nation-state is perhaps the most controversial of them. Its editors say it's aimed at strengthening Israel's Jewish character and its coming to court Thursday was celebrated as a historic moment by Netanyahu and his cohorts.
Four years later, legislation was introduced as a basic law and joined a dozen other powerful laws that form the constitution of Israel.
"This is a decisive moment for the state of Israel," said Netanyahu, speaking in plenary after the adoption of the law. "With this law we have determined the founding principle of our existence: Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people and respects the rights of all its citizens."
The parliamentarians of the Israeli Arab sector, which represents about 21% of the 8.5 million residents of the country, laughed at his statement, saying the law was rather an expression of Jewish supremacy that had turned them into second-class citizens.
"Today's # 39, I will have to tell my children, as well as all the children of Palestinian Arab cities in the country, that the state has declared that she does not want us here, " said Ayman Odeh, head of the joint Knesset Arab List faction
"The law contains key elements of apartheid, which is not only immoral but also absolutely prohibited by international law", said Hassan Jabareen, general manager of Adalah, a gold Palestinian organization for the defense of human rights in Israel. constitutionally, the identity of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people only – despite the 1.5 million Palestinian citizens of the state, the residents of East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights – and guaranteed the exclusive ethno-religious character of Israel as a Jew.
Amir Fuchs of the Israel Democratic Institute said the problem with the law was "what's missing."
"If there had been another paragraph that also gives full equality to all citizens of Israel, then I would have been much more relaxed," he said. "This law is now part of the constitution and will be with us for years to come, and its application depends on who interprets the law and when."
Two other laws also this week approved the rights of Palestinians, not the citizens of Israel, who live in the West Bank and the groups that defend them.
A law passed on Tuesday imposes limits on Palestinians' access to the Israeli High Court of Justice, redirecting administrative demands, for example on land or property rights, in the district court.The critics say the law is one step closer to the total annexation of the West Bank by the Palestinians, which the Palestinians hope to use for a long time. future national state
"This project of law does not concern law or justice. blur the difference between Israel and the occupied territories that are under the military regime, "said Roni Pelli of the Association for Human Rights in Israel." The explicit purpose of the bill is to facilitate things to the Israeli authorities that harm the Palestinians and make it harder for them to do justice "
About 400,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank, not counting occupied East Jerusalem The Palestinians have had some success in proving their property on lands now Last year, 40 families from the Israeli outpost of Amona were expelled when a legal petition from a nearby Palestinian village was supported. by Israel's Supreme Court, however, Israeli Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked said the law gives Israeli settlers the opportunity to appeal these decisions, and that all Israeli citizens, including those living in the West Bank, enjoyed the same rights.
"This law, passed 50 years after the liberation of Judea and Samaria, will normalize the lives of the inhabitants," said Shaked, referring to the territory by its biblical name.
The so-called "Break the silence" law was also approved on Tuesday. It prevents individuals and groups who encourage political action against the state of Israel or the prosecution of Israeli soldiers abroad to express themselves in Israeli schools. It was named after the controversial Israeli organization that collects anonymous testimonies of Israeli veterans who served in the occupied territories.
Yehuda Shaul said a last minute change to include all organizations that act to promote against the state of Israel "made the law particularly problematic.
" The term is so broad that It can be applied to any institution, organization and activist who has met a deputy, a foreign institution or a political body, "he said." The question of what exactly is considered " Political activity against the state of Israel "will now need to be clarified in court cases."
Education Minister, Naftali Bennett, said: "Breaking the Silence", "Had crossed the line of legitimate dialogue a long time ago when they chose to slander the state of Israel on the international scene. "
" As long as they act against the state of Israel and the Israeli army, I will not allow them to operate in the system
Another controversial bill aimed at removing and restricting online content set by the authorities as an incitement against Israel was withdrawn at the last minute on Wednesday by Netanyahu.
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