Netanyahu wants to define Israel as “Jewish state” in law

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, says he will introduce a basic law defining Israel as a Jewish state, giving high-level support to a controversial idea that has long been a demand of the Israeli extreme-right. The state has never before officially defined itself as “Jewish”, though right-wing legislators have introduced bills to that effect over the past few years. In a speech on Thursday, Netanyahu called Israel’s Jewish identity “the most basic ingredient of our national life.” Israel has never had a constitution; instead it has a series of “Basic Laws,” which are meant to someday be incorporated into a formal charter.

Caricature: Michel Kishka

Caricature: Michel Kishka

It’s unclear what practical impact the law would have: 66 years after independence, Israelis still disagree sharply on how a “Jewish state” should be governed. The measure could require Israeli courts, for example, to interpret the law according to Halakha, Jewish religious law.

The most vocal opposition came from Hadash and the Communist Party of Israel. MK Mohammed Barakeh, the chairman of Hadash Front, called it a racist law that would discriminate against Arab-Palestinians, who make up one-fifth of the Israeli population. Barakeh said legislation declaring a Jewish state would be racist in nature. “The truth is, I was surprised by his intention to bring this as a Basic Law,” Barakeh told Reuters. “I have been following Netanyahu’s actions in the peace talks. I know he doesn’t want peace and wants to put a spanner in the works. But he’s gone too far with this.”

“Behind these words, he may be hiding plans to put particular ‘Jewish values’ as superior to democratic values,” said MK Dov Khenin (Hadash). “For example, if it means that Hebrew should be the only language of the country, the only official language.”

The question of Israel’s identity became a central one during nine months of US-brokered negotiations with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), which stalled last week. Netanyahu insisted that the Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state as a precondition for talks, a demand rejected by Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president. Critics said the demand was a ploy by Netanyahu to scupper negotiations. Abbas reiterated in a speech on Saturday that he would never grant Israel that recognition, saying that the PLO recognized Israel in 1993 and did not have to go further.