On Saturday night, November 30, several thousand persons, among them activists from Hadash and the Communist Party of Israel, rallied outside the Prime Minister’s Residence in Jerusalem to protest against the “Jewish Nation Bill” being proposed by Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing government. If the bill is passed as law, it would enshrine Israel as the Jewish nation-state and ensure national self-determination and individual rights for Jews, but only individual rights for Arab-Palestinians citizens.

“Jewish Nation Bill”: Arabs as second zone citizens.

Israel’s Channel 2 news reported Saturday night that Netanyahu, fearing a collapse of his coalition, decided not to present a particularly strongly-worded version of the “Jewish Nation” bill for a first Knesset reading this coming Wednesday as had been scheduled. Instead, the PM would propose his own softened version of the bill to the cabinet on Sunday, November 30, and to the Knesset for a first reading during the week starting December 7.

During the last Saturday night’s Jerusalem rally against the bill, former Minister of Education Yossi Sarid told those gathered “Now is our great test. If we stand fast, the left will be strengthened. If we don’t, the left will disappear.” He added “If Israel will not be democratic it simply won’t continue to exist.” According to Sarid, this is not the time for moderation. With the government having made a sharp turn to the right, the left must cut further leftward as a counterbalance, he said.

Related:

Netanyahu Backs “Jewish State” Bill … MK Barakeh Slams PM for Incitement

Hadash against Netanyahu’s “Jewish Nation-State” Bill

Communist and Arab MKs Evicted from Knesset for Calling Feiglin Fascist