Knesset okays opening academy to promote Arabic language

[oberliner]

Israel passed legislation on Wednesday to set up the first Arabic-language academy marking the first time such an institution will exist in a non-Arab country.

After months of debates, the Knesset plenum passed a law co-sponsored by Jewish and Arabic MKs billed as the first outside the Arab world to seek to promote the Arabic language and coin new terms, a statement from the Knesset said.

"The academy will provide a bridge between cultural groups in Israel and between Israel and its neighbors," said MK Michael Melchior (Labor), a co-sponsor of the legislation.


The institute, to be set up by Israel's Education Ministry, will work in parallel with an existing Hebrew-language academy and will promote research into ancient linguistic ties between Hebrew and Arabic, said Melchior. It will also study Arabic terminology, grammar, diction, and written Arabic. The academy will research the modern language and its adaptation to the technological era.

"This is an historic step," said MK Nadia Hilu, also from Labor, and who co-sponsored the law with Melchior.

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