MOSCOW, November 23 (Sputnik) — The Israeli cabinet has approved a controversial bill that officially defines Israel as a Jewish state, AFP reports.
15 ministers have approved the compromised version of the legislation, proposed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after what the Jerusalem Post described as a shouting match between the ministers.
“Israel is a Jewish democratic state. There are those who want democracy to take precedence over Judaism, and those who want Judaism to take precedence over democracy,” Netanyahu said before the cabinet meeting, as quoted by the Jerusalem Post. “In the law that I am bringing, both principles are equal and must be given equal consideration,” he stressed.
According to the new bill, all Israeli citizens enjoy equal rights, but only Jewish people have national rights, which include the right to immigrate to the country, according to Netanyahu. “These are granted only to our people, in its one and only state,” the prime minister said, as quoted by the Times of Israel.
Netanyahu added that he does not “understand those who call for two states for two peoples, but at the same time oppose anchoring such a position in law. They are quick to recognize a Palestinian national home, but adamantly oppose a Jewish national home.”
Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni of the Hatnuah party voted against the bill along with Finance Minister Yair Lapid, chairman of the Yesh Atid Party. Both contend that the legislation goes against the democratic values of the country, according to Bloomberg. Shai Piron, minister of education, Yaacov Peri, the minister for science, technology and space, Yael German, health minister, and Meir Cohen, minister of welfare and social services, also did not support the bill. Limor Livnat, minister of culture and sport, abstained.
The legislation has been sent to the Knesset, which is expected to vote on it on Wednesday. If approved, it will become a law.
Arabs account for approximately 20 percent of the Israeli population, according to the Associated Press.
