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Israeli Arab MP resigns over controversial 'nation state' law | Israeli Arab MP resigns over controversial 'nation state' law |
(about 11 hours later) | |
An Israeli Arab politician has resigned in opposition to a controversial new law which declares Israel to be the nation state of the Jewish people. | An Israeli Arab politician has resigned in opposition to a controversial new law which declares Israel to be the nation state of the Jewish people. |
Zouheir Bahloul, 67, branded parliament "racist" and "destructive" for passing the law, which also puts Hebrew above Arabic as the official language. | |
"[The law] removes the Arab population from the path of equality in Israel," he told Israeli TV network Reshet. | "[The law] removes the Arab population from the path of equality in Israel," he told Israeli TV network Reshet. |
The bill passed on 19 July, provoking anger from Israel's Arab minority. | The bill passed on 19 July, provoking anger from Israel's Arab minority. |
Arab members of the Knesset tore up copies of the bill and shouted their disgust, before some were thrown out of the chamber. | Arab members of the Knesset tore up copies of the bill and shouted their disgust, before some were thrown out of the chamber. |
"I am resigning from the Knesset," Mr Bahloul, a member of the opposition Zionist Union party, said on Saturday. | "I am resigning from the Knesset," Mr Bahloul, a member of the opposition Zionist Union party, said on Saturday. |
"Should I sit on the fence? Should I give legitimacy to this destructive, racist, extremist parliament?" | "Should I sit on the fence? Should I give legitimacy to this destructive, racist, extremist parliament?" |
He added that he could not face telling his grandson that he had kept his seat in the Knesset. | He added that he could not face telling his grandson that he had kept his seat in the Knesset. |
After the bill was passed, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised it as a "defining moment" in the country's history. | After the bill was passed, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised it as a "defining moment" in the country's history. |
"A hundred and twenty-two years after [the founder of modern Zionism Theodore] Herzl made his vision known, with this law we determined the founding principle of our existence," he said. | "A hundred and twenty-two years after [the founder of modern Zionism Theodore] Herzl made his vision known, with this law we determined the founding principle of our existence," he said. |
Called The Basic Law: Israel as the Nation State of the Jewish People, the legislation essentially defines Israel first and foremost as a Jewish state. | Called The Basic Law: Israel as the Nation State of the Jewish People, the legislation essentially defines Israel first and foremost as a Jewish state. |
It was created because some Israeli Jewish politicians consider the founding principles of Israel's creation, as a state for Jews in their ancient homeland, to be under threat. | It was created because some Israeli Jewish politicians consider the founding principles of Israel's creation, as a state for Jews in their ancient homeland, to be under threat. |
But Israeli Arabs, who comprise about 20% of the country's population, see it as evidence that Israel is downgrading their status. | But Israeli Arabs, who comprise about 20% of the country's population, see it as evidence that Israel is downgrading their status. |
They have equal rights under the law but have long complained of being treated as second-class citizens and say they face discrimination and worse provisions than Israeli Jews. | They have equal rights under the law but have long complained of being treated as second-class citizens and say they face discrimination and worse provisions than Israeli Jews. |
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