Egypt on Saturday rejected a controversial law adopted by the Israeli parliament that defines the country as the nation-state of the Jewish people, warning that it undermines peace efforts.
The foreign ministry said in a statement:
“It consolidates the notion of occupation and racial segregation, and undermines the chances of achieving peace and reaching a just and comprehensive resolution to the Palestinian issue.”
Egypt rejects Israeli nation-state law as ‘racial segregation’ https://t.co/Hs3yNH23ze pic.twitter.com/lveUlQ6pqT
— The Times of Israel (@TimesofIsrael) July 22, 2018
The Israeli law adopted on Thursday defines the establishment of Jewish communities as being in the national interest and downgrades Arabic from an official language to one with “special status”.
Arab citizens account for some 17.5 percent of Israel’s more than eight-million population and have long complained of discrimination.
Egypt says it rejects the law over 'ramifications that consecrate the concept of occupation and racial segregation'https://t.co/p6Wb2IqcvI
— Haaretz.com (@haaretzcom) July 21, 2018
The Israeli legislation was also condemned by the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, comprised of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Rights group Amnesty International has also criticized the legislation, saying it “entrenched and exacerbated 70 years of inequality and discrimination against non-Jews”.
By passing the nation-state bill #Israel has entrenched & exacerbated 70 yrs of inequality & discrimination against non-Jews in a law with constitutional status. #Palestinians (~20% of Israel's pop.) are now officially 2nd class citizens. #Israel must uphold human rights for all!
— AmnestyInternational (@amnesty) July 19, 2018
Egypt alongside Jordan is the only other Arab country that has a peace treaty and significant economic ties with Israel.
#Israeli Legislators Prepare to Vote into Law #Jewish Nation State’ Bill https://t.co/uZWWGow6mC @PalestineChron pic.twitter.com/SZfWvOflDz
— Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) July 18, 2018
There have long been suggestions of behind-the-scenes military and intelligence cooperation between Egypt and Israel, although officials from both countries rarely comment publicly on them.
(Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, PC, Social Media)
