Israeli flag on a Tel Aviv beach on Independence Day.
Netanyahu cancels vote on nationality bill
The Constitution, Law and Justice Committee was supposed to vote on the proposed nationality bill, but the prime minister ordered the subject to be discussed instead at a coalition committee.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to delay the much-debated nationality bill, following days of suspense ahead of a vote on the proposed law that was supposed to take place on Monday.
Instead, Netanyahu has ordered to pass the bill over to another committee appointed by the coalition.
Israel supporters in New York waving Israeli flags. (Photo: AP)
Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked was supposed to bring the proposed legislation to MK Avi Dichter to be voted on at the Knesset's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee. However, it transpired on Saturday evening that Netanyahu had decided to put brakes on the process.
Netanyahu's decision was likely made in the light of the current security situation and ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the current wave of terror.
Voices from the coalition suggested that Netanyahu in fact does not want the law – and never has wanted it. There was also criticism of Netanyahu's use of the law in the past to dismantle the coalition, while now he is burying it in a committee.
"This once again proves that the government is pretending to be nationalist and has no connection to the principles of the nationalist camp," said Avigdor Lieberman, head of the Yisrael Beytenu party. "Not in security, not in policy and not in the law."
A source close to MK Avi Dichter said of the decision: "The prime minister ordered nearly a year ago that a team be established to put together the wording of this Basic Law. He formulated the principles according to which the law could be put together. The proposed bill ran along the same principles ordered by the prime minister.
"The removal of this law from the legal committee is a blow for the nationalist camp and for all those who demand the recognition of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people," he added.
Avigdor Lieberman speaking in the Ynet studio. (Photo: Zehavit Shasha)
The first clause of the nationality bill was for it to be anchored as one of Israel's Basic Laws, positioning Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people. The clause also stipulated that all Israeli law would be interpreted according to the nationality bill, in much the same way as the Supreme Court ruled that Israeli law must be interpreted according to the principles of the Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty.
This Basic Law also sets out the practical aspects of the recognition of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people, some of which are already expressed in existing legislation: state symbols (national anthem, flag, icon), Jerusalem as the capital, the language, the right of return, ingathering of the exiles, Jewish settlement, the connection with the Jewish diaspora, the Hebrew calendar and holy places.
"A team will be established comprising all coalition factions, that will consolidate an agreed text for the nationality bill," a response from Netanyahu's Likud party said.
The bill to be submitted would be a law representing the whole government and not just a private initiative of an individual MK, the statement continued.
