Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attacked Jews who oppose a notorious nation-state bill that has downgraded the status of the Arabic language in Israel, accusing them of siding with “the other.”
Netanyahu said in a speech on Sunday:
“The attacks from Leftist circles, which define themselves as Zionists, are absurd and reveal the depths to which the Left has fallen.”
Netanyahu Calls Jews Who Oppose Nation-state Law 'Hypocrites' https://t.co/jaoLGxqgQC
— Sam عمو (@sam__eg) July 31, 2018
He accused left-wingers in Israel who are against the law of being hypocrites because according to him, they allegedly want a withdrawal from the occupied West Bank in exchange for a Jewish state.
According to the Times of Israel, he commented:
“So now suddenly, when we legislate a law that does just that, they cry out in protest on the Left. What hypocrisy.”
#Jewish Nation-State Law: Why #Israel Was Never a Democracy https://t.co/v9yFFYtqzE via @PalestineChron pic.twitter.com/o4YEEbZSBh
— Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) July 28, 2018
The notorious law, however, does not respect the Palestinian status of the West Bank, with the Tel Aviv government claiming they have every right to build illegal settlements on the occupied territories at the expense of Palestinian civilians.
"Intentionally and maliciously, [Netanyahu] transformed the debate over the new nation-state law into a test of loyalty. If you’re with the Jews, you’re with me" https://t.co/FNBtrACWyI
— Shibley Telhami (@ShibleyTelhami) July 30, 2018
The West Bank has been occupied for more than 50 years. More than 600,000 Israeli Jews live in settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, in territories seized during the 1967 war.
The nation-state law passed earlier this month declared the country as the nation-state of the Jewish people, provoking fears it could lead to blatant discrimination against Arab citizens.
Knesset to hold special session on Nation-State Bill @Jerusalem_Post @Gil_Hoffman https://t.co/9vrkCzZR6p
— IATaskForce (@IATFisraelarabs) July 31, 2018
Arab lawmakers and Palestinians called the law “racist” and said it legalized “apartheid” following a tumultuous debate in parliament.
Others said it neglects to specify equality and Israel’s democratic character, implying that the country’s Jewish nature comes first.
Retweeted The Times of Israel (@TimesofIsrael):
IDF suspends Druze officer who denounced nation-state law https://t.co/pdr4NR9HE5 pic.twitter.com/tKbWAYiRc5 https://t.co/XUf6lhTklJ
— महादेव भक्त !! ठेठ कनपुरिया खोपड़ी !! (@sandeeepmaurya) July 31, 2018
The European Union expressed concern and called for the rights of minorities to be respected.
The legislation, adopted by 62 votes to 55, makes Hebrew the country’s national language and defines the establishment of Jewish communities as being in the national interest.
Arabic, previously considered an official language, was granted only special status.
Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem statement on Israeli Nation-State Law: "the law fails to provide any constitutional guarantees for the rights of the indigenous & other minorities living in the country." https://t.co/qejrAX2g0O
— la jess ??? #ProtectTPS | جيس (@JessChilin) July 31, 2018
After the vote on the legislation, backed by his right-wing government, Netanyahu said:
“It is our state, the Jewish state, but in recent years some have tried to question that as well as the principles of our existence and our rights.”
He called its approval a “decisive moment” in Israeli history, despite international condemnation.
(Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, PC, Social Media)