Government of Jewish zealotry

[Jefferson23]

Naftali Bennett's obsession, which is shared by the current government, is to turn the Arab population into second-class citizens.

Haaretz Editorial | Feb. 25, 2014 |


The obsession with Jewish zealotry is not letting up. It seems as if the Israeli government has no concerns other than to repeatedly reaffirm the Jewish identity of Israel, whether it’s by setting up ridiculous agencies like the Jewish Identity Administration, or by approving bills calling for “educating toward strengthening the value of Israel as the Jewish nation-state.” But not for the purpose of enhancing Jewish scholarship, God forbid.

This shameless process has many participants, such as Habayit Hayehudi chairman Naftali Bennett. The economy minister on Sunday addressed a conference entitled “Is Israel’s identity as the Jewish nation-state to be enshrined in law?” He made it clear that the goal of the proposed law’s supporters is to turn Israel’s Arabs not just into de facto second-class citizens as a result of discrimination, but into de jure second-class citizens - as a matter of law.

In addition to the usual nationalist clichés like, “We must demonstrate zero tolerance for the national aspirations of Israeli Arabs. … Judaizing the Galilee and the Negev are in line with the state’s values. … If we do not get recognition [as the Jewish state], then the Palestinians will have a state-and-a-half, and we’ll have half a state,” Bennett said, “The High Court of Justice, since [former Court President] Aharon Barak, has been working consistently to alter the balance and deplete the country of all its Jewish significance. There has been a civil revolution at the expense of Judaism, as in the Ka’adan case.”

His reference to the High Court of Justice and the Ka’adan case – in which the court ruled that an Arab can buy a home in a Jewish community – demonstrates Bennett’s true intentions. In 1995, Adel and Iman Ka’adan petitioned the High Court of Justice after their application to join the community of Katzir was rejected because they were Arabs. In their important ruling in 2000, the justices stated that it is actually the State of Israel’s Jewishness that makes it crucial to uphold the value of equality.

in full:http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/1.576186