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TEL AVIV – The Israeli "nation-state" law, celebrated as a "turning point" for the country by its supporters, sparked strong protests inside the country . and around the world.
The law that was narrowly passed Thursday declaring that only Jews have the right to self-determination was supported by the right-wing government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
. 70th anniversary of the birth of the state of Israel and, among other things, strips the Arabic of its designation as an official language alongside Hebrew.
While the country's statement as a "Jewish state" obviously has a meaning, "according to Yohanan Plesner, chairman of the independent think tank Israel Democratic Institute, excluding the concept of democracy is a fundamental flaw.
"The wording of the current bill and the way it was passed down is harmful because it does not include the basic principles and basic components of the Jewish state such as". they have been defined in the last 70 years, "he said
"A commitment to Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, based on the values of the Declaration of Independence, this commitment, this phrase n & # It does not appear in the legislation "says Plesner. The law "tilts the balance, the delicate and correct balance, between the Jewish and democratic elements of our national character."
In the aftermath of the vote of the law, Netanyahu told the Knesset after the vote that the law was "decisive".
Netanyahu's allies or, outside Israel, long-time supporters of the country have criticized the American Jewish Committee, one of the oldest in history from the country. and most of the largest Jewish advocacy groups, said that they were "deeply disappointed" by law, and added "jeopardize the commitment of the founders of Israel to build a a country that is both Jewish and democratic. "
Its most controversial elements – such as allowing members of one religion to maintain separate communities – were stripped before the final passage, critics said it perpetuated discrimination against the country's Arab minority.
American Jewish organizations wrote to opposition leader Isaac Herzog, who opposed the bill before its most controversial elements were removed.
Legislators and Israeli-Arab citizens have strongly criticized this law
. "Youssef Jabareen, Member of Parliament for the alliance of the Arab Common List." The result of this legislation will be to perpetuate the inferior status of the Arabs in Israel. "
The Arabs of Israel represent about 20 % of the Israeli population of 9 million.
"Today, I must say my children, with all the children of Palestinian Arab cities in the country, that the state said that he did not want us here, "said the leader of the joint list, Ayman Odeh, in a statement read to parliament." He passed a law of Jewish supremacy and told us that we will always be second-class citizens. "
Moshe Arens – a former defense minister, ambassador to the United States and Netanyahu's Likud member – also criticized the bill. According to him, by downgrading the status of Arabic, he would alienate the largest minority and the most powerful radicals of the country
"The project of the nation-state can only play the game of Israeli Arab politicians.He wrote in an editorial that preceded the adoption of the bill.
The head of the diplomacy of the European Union said the law also complicates efforts to conclude a peace agreement. "We were very clear about the two-state solution," Federica Mogherini told reporters Thursday. to complicate or prevent this from becoming a reality should be avoided. "
Talks to establish a Palestinian state in Gaza and the West Bank failed, with Jewish settlement in the occupied West Bank and Gaza controlled by militants under the control of the West Bank. Israel blockade lo-Egyptian.
Paul Goldman reported from Tel Aviv; Lawahez Jabari of Jerusalem; and F. Brinley Bruton of London.
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