clear

Creating new perspectives since 2009

Report: Escalation of Israel's racist laws against Palestinians

April 21, 2017 at 11:12 am

Palestinians demonstrate against the Israeli government in front of the Knesset building in Jerusalem on 27 January 2017 [Faiz Abu Rmeleh/Anadolu Agency]

A new report has revealed that extremism in Israel has escalated to include senior political circles and laws as well as government decisions. Collectively, they are intended to target the presence of the Palestinian people in their own land.

Issued by the Palestinian Centre for Israeli Studies (MADAR), the report examined the list of racist laws supporting illegal Israeli settlements passed by the Knesset (parliament) from 2006. It pointed out that during its 17th parliamentary session (2006-2009), the Knesset approved the final readings of six such pieces of legislation; during its 18th session between 2009 and 2013 the figure was eight; within two years from the start of the 19th session it passed 24 pro-settlement, anti-Palestinian laws. MADAR regards this escalation to be an indicator of more repressive laws in the pipeline.

Read: Israel’s ‘arbitrary’ laws specifically target Palestinian prisoners

According to the report, 136 laws are included on the Knesset agenda during the current 20th session. It noted that Israeli parliamentarians are competing to propose more laws in favour of the settlements, including 30 aimed at imposing Israeli sovereignty on the colonies, or on the occupied West Bank as a whole.

“During the Israeli parliament’s 2016-2017 winter session,” said the report, “repressive laws have increased against those who disagree with government policies and the coalition’s agenda. For example, there has been a law banning the Muslim call for prayer which was approved by the Knesset during a preliminary reading.”

Read: Normalisation under occupation: How does Israel understand the Arab Peace Initiative?

Palestinians paint 'Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque to the school's wall to protest against approval of the proposed Azan (call to prayer) ban law by Israel in Gaza City, Gaza on March 21, 2017. ( Mustafa Hassona - Anadolu Agency )

Palestinians paint Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque to the school’s wall to protest against approval of the proposed Azan (call to prayer) ban law by Israel in Gaza City, Gaza on March 21, 2017.
( Mustafa Hassona – Anadolu Agency )