BICOM

Five Israeli government ministers participated in a debate yesterday in Jerusalem on efforts to define Israel’s Jewish character through legislation.

At a conference organised by the Kohelet Policy Forum, representatives from across the coalition spectrum, including Interior Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, Economy Minister Naftali Bennett, Education Minister Shai Piron and Immigrant Absorption Minister Sofa Landver participated in a panel debate entitled “Israel’s identity as the Jewish nation state, as a matter of law.”

Livni argued unequivocally that “My definition is Israel as a Jewish state, which is completely equal for all of its citizens.” She added that, “It is a mistake to deal only with Jewishness and not with democracy. We need to deal with both in parallel and not give legal primacy to Jewishness. Zionism referred to a national movement, not a religious one.”

Bennett stressed that, “there is no contradiction between Jewishness and democracy.” However, he drew a distinction between absolute equality for individual identities and the country’s national identity, saying, “We need to emphasize the Jewishness of the country.”

Meanwhile, Education Minister Piron said that, “we should avoid mixing debate about Israel’s Jewishness with how to resolve” the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, saying that the country’s Jewish character must be defined “On our own terms” independently of diplomatic and political considerations.

Palestinian Authority officials have consistently refused to recognise Israel as a characteristically Jewish state, a key demand for mutual recognition by Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu. Former cabinet secretary Zvi Hauser, who chaired yesterday’s session commented, “At a time when Israel is trying to get the Palestinians to recognize Israel as the Jewish state, we should practice what we preach and do the same.”

Hauser is promoting efforts to anchor Israel’s Jewish identity as one of the country’s Basic Laws, which serve in lieu of a constitution. Meanwhile, Livni has tasked Professor Ruth Gavison, of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and a member of the International Commission of Jurists, to formulate her recommendations.