To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE
Israel Preparing for "Nationality Law" That Asserts Israel is a Jewish State with State Symbols and Hebrew as Official LanguageThe author of the bill, Knesset Member Avi Dichter of the Likud Party, opened the session by saying that "the Nationality Law is the insurance policy we will leave behind for future generations. The State of Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people." (Israel)—[JNS.org] On Monday night, the Knesset plenum passed the first reading of the proposed "Nationality Law," which seeks to canonize "Israel as the Nation State of the Jewish People." Sixty-four Knesset members voted in favor of the law, and 50 parliamentarians opposed. (Photo: Knesset Members applaud as U.S. Vice President Mike Pence speaks at the special plenary session at the Knesset, Israel's Parliament, in Jerusalem, on Jan. 22, 2018/Photo by Gil Yochanan/POOL/via JNS.org) In addition, the law would enshrine the state's Jewish symbols and the designation of Jerusalem as its capital. The law designates Hebrew as the country's official language, with Arabic maintaining a special status to be utilized for the provision of state services to Arabic speakers. It also sets the Hebrew lunar calendar as the country's official calendar, and makes Independence Day and other Jewish holidays, events and memorial days into national law. The author of the bill, Knesset Member Avi Dichter of the Likud Party, opened the session by saying that "the Nationality Law is the insurance policy we will leave behind for future generations. The State of Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people." In explanatory remarks, the bill's aim was stated as "to enshrine in basic legislation the identity of the State of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people, as well as adding a series of instructions to its constitutional framework dealing with the country's fundamental characteristics as a Jewish state." The bill neither grants nor detracts from individual rights based on ethnicity or nationality, but became controversial due to its clear emphasis on the Jewishness of the state. Opposition Knesset Members Tzipi Livni (Zionist Union) and Yael German (Yesh Atid) claimed in the session that the bill places too much emphasis on majority will and would inherently threaten minority rights. Ahmad Tibi (Joint Arab list) said: "What the law actually declares is that there are two kinds of civilians. One group comprised of Jews that has rights, and the other comprised of tolerable guests. The law practically determines Jews-only communities. If that's not racism, I don't know what is." Though Arab parties were the most virulently opposed to the bill, Jewish religious parties noted that the bill's definition was lacking a critical emphasis on Judaism and Torah. In order to become law, the bill needs to pass a second and third reading. At present, it remains unclear whether the coalition will continue to advance the law towards passage.
To receive daily emails from Breaking Christian News to your inbox CLICK HERE Other Recent Articles from Breaking Christian News California Town Tears Down Beloved Hillside Cross Danielle Smith Again Defends Alberta's Coming Ban on Transgender Mutilation of Children US Supreme Court Says Idaho Can Enforce Ban on Child 'Sex Changes' as Lawsuit Continues How Bidenomics Shattered the American Dream of Homeownership Bill Aims to Stop Illegal Aliens from Squatting in US Homes Soros-Linked NGO Distributes Flyers in Mexico Telling Illegal Immigrants to 'Vote For Biden': Report Long-Awaited Articles of Impeachment against DHS Secretary Mayorkas Finally Arrive in Senate Justices Gorsuch and Alito Highlight Biden Admin's Glaring Double Standard during J6 Hearing NPR Suspends Editor Who Blew Whistle on Left-Wing Takeover of Newsroom 50,000 Join Polish March for Life in the Midst of Government Push to Overturn Abortion Ban Hamas Remains Obstacle to Gaza Ceasefire, Israel Has Moved in a 'Significant Way,' US Says Wow. Joe Biden Approved Iran's Assault on Israel 'Within Certain Limits' Maine Governor Allows National Popular Vote Legislation to Become Law Election Integrity: Trump, Mike Johnson Back Bill Assuring Only US Citizens Vote in Elections Fox News Host Lawrence Jones Delivers Powerful Gospel Message: I'm 'Proud to Be a Believer' California Mom Wants Child Castrated Without Father's Consent Search the Articles Archives |
All articles on this site and emails from BCN are copyrighted property of Breaking Christian News. Permission is given to link to, or share a BCN story if proper attribution is given to both the original writer and summarizer of the story. Breaking Christian News 2005-2019. All Rights Reserved.
Breaking Christian News is a division of Elijah List Publications, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Disclaimer: Articles and links, as well as the source articles linked to; do not necessarily reflect the opinion of Breaking Christian News.
Home | Store | Subscribe | Facebook | Article Archive |