BICOM

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday announced that he will promote new legislation to enshrine Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people. Political opponents and elements within Netanyahu’s coalition vowed to oppose such a move.

Speaking in Independence Hall in Tel Aviv, where the establishment of the State of Israel was announced in 1948, Netanyahu stated that, “It is my intention to submit a Basic Law to the Knesset that would provide a constitutional anchor for Israel’s status as the national state of the Jewish people.” Basic Laws are considered to have constitutional standing, in the absence of a codified constitution.  Netanyahu stated that such legislation would counter those who “seek to undermine the historical, moral and legal justification for the existence of the State of Israel as the nation-state of our people.”

He added, “there are those who do not recognize this natural right,” alluding to the persistent refusal of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas during recent peace talks to recognise Israel as a Jewish nation state. Netanyahu added that, “The State of Israel will always preserve full personal and civil equality for all its citizens, Jews and non-Jews alike, in a Jewish and democratic state,” countering those who argue that legislation which anchors Israel’s Jewish character could denigrate the country’s minorities.

However, Netanyahu’s announcement sparked opposition from a variety of political leaders. Leader of the Opposition and Labour Party, Isaac Herzog said that although “the Labour party vehemently supports Israel as a Jewish and democratic state … no law can conceal” Netanyahu’s policies which “will cause the loss of the Jewish majority and turn Israel to a bi-national state.” Meanwhile, Tzipi Livni pledged “by no means will we allow for the weakening of democratic values and their subjugation to the Jewish ones,” the balance of which is demarked by “the essence of the Declaration of Independence.” Channel Two reported that Yesh Atid, headed by Finance Minister Yair Lapid would also oppose Netanyahu’s legislation, creating potential coalition discord.