Israel election: Gantz pledges to modify Nation-State Law

Leader of the Israel Resilience Party (Hosen Yisrael) Benny Gantz yesterday pledged to modify the country’s controversial Nation-State Law.

Gantz’ comment is his first remark since he announced last month that he would run in Israel’s upcoming general election on 9 April, Al-Resalah reported.

Addressing a demonstration being held by Israel’s Druze community, Gantz pledge to modify the controversial Nation-State Law, which declared Israel the “historical homeland of the Jewish people” in which “the right to exercise national self-determination […] is unique to the Jewish people”.

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However, Gantz did not give further details about his plan or specify which articles he planned to modify.

The Nation-State Law was met with controversy when it was approved by the Israeli Knesset in July, with Israel’s Druze community being one of its most vocal critics. The Druze community has largely integrated into Israel society, with many serving in the Israeli army.

Public opinion surveys have shown that Gantz – who is also the former Israeli Chief of Staff – could win 13 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, making him the biggest rival of incumbent Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Israel has passed the Nation-State Law becoming officially an Apartheid State – Cartoon [Sabaaneh/MiddleEastMonitor]