Israeli Cabinet Backs Controversial Nationality Bill

[Jesus Malverde]

Source: NYTimes

The Israeli cabinet on Sunday approved contentious draft legislation that emphasizes Israel’s Jewish character above its democratic nature in a move that critics said could undermine the fragile relationship with the country’s Arab minority at a time of heightened tensions.

The promotion of a so-called nationality law has long stirred fierce debate inside Israel, where opponents fear that any legislation that gives pre-eminence to Israel’s Jewishness could lead to an internal rift as well as damage Israel’s relations with Jews in other countries and with the country’s international allies.

The vote on Sunday also highlighted political fissures within the governing coalition amid increasing talk of early elections. The bill, a proposal for a basic law titled “Israel, the Nation-State of the Jewish People,” passed 14 to 6, with two centrist coalition parties opposing it. Parliament still has to approve the bill for it to become a law.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/24/world/middleeast/israeli-cabinet-backs-nationality-bill-that-risks-wider-rift-with-arab-minority.html

[George II]

1. Very dangerous move

[alfredo]

2. It won't be just Muslims, Christians will be relegated to that 2nd class status.

[Blue_Tires]

18. And Ethiopian Jews will descend to 3rd class

[alfredo]

26. I haven't read much about the Falashas lately. I will have to

hit the Google.

[Reter]

3. More racist than South Africa in the 80's

Disgusting.

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

4. But definitely not more "racist" than some of their neighbors

nt

[RiverNoord]

14. Israel's neighbors are Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia

Which of these countries has declared itself THE worldwide homeland of a particular religious or ethnic group? Also, have any required adherents to non-majority religions or ethnic groups to swear that they accept that the country is all about the majority religion and ethnic group (meaning, of course, that they are citizens at the sufferance of the majority)?

Take Lebanon, for instance - it has enshrined in law the exact opposite: several quite disparate religious and ethnic groups engage in a power sharing government system, which is maintained by law.

So - I would like to know which policy or policies maintained by a government of one of Israel's neighbors compares to legislation such as that being debated in Israel. Really.

[TexasMommaWithAHat]

16. Are you joking?

Saudi Arabia - home of oppressive, religious laws like forbidding women to drive? It's an Islamic nation to state the obvious.

By the way, I did mean the general region when speaking of neighbors.

Peace.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

5. How many times have Republicans tried to pass bills establishing the US as a Christian Nation?

[geek tragedy]

6. none recently that I can recall.

Mainly because that would involve passing legislation.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

13. Good goddamn point.

[MyNameGoesHere]

7. How is this different

than proclaiming oneself a master race?

[Duppers]

9. God's chosen people

Rather like how the WASP Repubs in this country think.

[former9thward]

11. Maybe you should ask all the Islamic governments.

[alfredo]

12. Not all Islamic governments are theocratic. It is the conservative Islamic nations like

Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Afghanistan that gives the whole religion a bad name.

BTW, ISIS is Wahhabi, just like Saudi Arabia.

[RiverNoord]

15. Which ones are those?

Which Islamic government are you referring to, the one that ties citizenship to the acknowledgment that the country exists for the benefit of a single religious/ethnic group?

[former9thward]

17. Yes, those would be the ones.

Every Arab state I have been to, and that would be 90% of them.

[RiverNoord]

19. Ah, so it's Arab governments then that you have a beef with.

Quite a distinction there. Most Muslims aren't Arabs. BTW, what makes a nation an 'Arab state?' Is it that most of the people in the country are Arabs, or that the ruling elite are largely Arabs, or that the country is a monarchy with an Arab ruling family? Then the question still lingers - how, exactly, do 90% of 'Arab state(s)' officially place non-Arabs in jeopardy of losing their citizenship if they don't swear an oath declaring that the country is an Arab Islamic state?

[former9thward]

25. No, not the governments.

The governments reflect the people -- as does Israel -- and most countries. Unlike Israel which has Islamic citizens,the Arab countries have purged their populations of Jews. Islam is the government and the law despite your attempts to deflect.

[MisterP]

8. reverse jus solis? y'cant stay if you've been here *more* than 5 generations?

[Odin2005]

24. Welp, I guess I have to go back to Norway!

[Droning Predator]

10. Whattashock!

[another_liberal]

20. Denial isn't a river in Egypt . . .

It's the principle mindset of Israel's leading politicians.

Talk about living a twisted, racist dream!

[Adrahil]

21. I'm not surprised, but dayum....

The fact is that demographics have spoken. Israel will not be able to remain both Jewish and democratic.

[The Stranger]

22. Sharia law?

How do you translate "dhimmi" to Hebrew?

[Odin2005]

23. The Racist Apartheid State of Israel does it again!