Thursday, August 4, 2011

Israeli Knesset considers bill to end 'democratic' element of Israeli state

A new law currently under consideration by the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) recognizes the inherent contradiction in Israel's self-definition as both a 'democratic' and Jewish state, and calls on the government to favor Jewish law and traditions over democracy.

Israeli Knesset (image from palestinechronicle.com)
Israeli Knesset (image from palestinechronicle.com)

Forty legislators have sponsored the bill, including the majority of Knesset members from the Kadima party, and Knesset members from the right-wing Yisrael Beitenu party, the Labor party, Atzamaut and National Union parties.

It calls on Israeli courts to use Jewish law to make decisions "in situations in which the Jewish character of the state clashes with its democratic character", and calls for Arabic to be removed as one of Israel's national languages (20% of the population of Israel are indigenous Palestinians who remained after the state of Israel was created on their land in 1948).
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3 comments:

  1. <p><span>The End of a Discussion With a Prison-guard</span>
    </p><p><span>Through the eyehole of this little cell of mine
    I can see the trees all smiling at me,
    The rooftops crowded with my family,
    The windows breaking into tears for me
    And prayers for me.
    Through the eyehole of this little cell of mine
    I see your bigger cell just fine. </span>
    </p><p><span>Palestinian poet Samih Al-Qasim </span></p>

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  2. I hope the law is passed and the pariah state further embraces its pariah status. Perhaps we'll cease to hear the propagandists banging on about Israel being the only democracy in the Middle East, though I doubt it. Facts have never been their strong point. We can also watch with fascination as Obama and crew twist and turn in their attempts to rationalise the madness.

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  3. I agree with your opinions.

    I'm wondering why no mention was made of Likud party members in the Knesset.  It sounds like something they would favor.

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