Israeli ministers to discuss new ‘Jewish nation-state’ bill

Israeli ministers will discuss a new version of a draft law defining Israel “as the nation-state of the Jewish people”, according to a report in Haaretz.

The Ministerial Committee for Legislation “will decide whether the government will support the bill.”

The bill consists of two clauses, the first of which defines Israel as “the Jewish people’s nation-state, based on the foundations of liberty, justice and peace in the light of Israel’s prophets’ vision, and upholds equal rights for all its citizens.” The second clause says “Israel is a democracy.”

Previous versions of such a law have failed to advance, with Jewish Home and some Likud members demanding “that the bill subordinate Israel’s democratic character to its Jewish identity in such areas as Supreme Court rulings.”

The current, “softened” version was drafted by MK Benny Begin (Likud), who says his draft is based on the Declaration of Independence.

Haaretz reports that opposition party Yesh Atid intends to support the bill, while coalition partner Kulanu said they “don’t oppose it categorically.”