Benjamin Netanyahu stands firm on controversial Nation-State Law
Prime Minister says law is not meant to harm and will "guarantee for future generations that Israel will be the nation-state of the Jews"
Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed his backing to the controversial Nation-State Law, insisting it doesn’t harm anyone and will “guarantee for future generations that Israel will be the nation-state of the Jews”.
Speaking the day after an estimated 50,000 people marched in protest in Rabin Square, Netanyahu told the cabinet on Sunday that the law is important for future generations. He said: “Without the Nation-State Law, it is impossible to guarantee for future generations that Israel will be the nation-state of the Jews.”
Saying how the law didn’t harm – on intends to – the individual rights of minorities living in the country, he added how Israel is a Jewish and democratic state, how the democratic nature of the state is anchored in numerous laws and that The Nation-State law was necessary to enshrine the Jewish nature of the state.
He said: “The Nation-State law first of all enshrines the Law of Return, and raise it to another level – that law, of course, gives an automatic right to Jews, and only to them, to immigrate to Israel and receive citizenship.
“It prevents the exploitation of the family unification clause, which has led to the absorption of tens of thousands of Palestinians since the Oslo Accords, and this law helps prevent the continued entry into Israel of Palestinians without supervision. This law may also help us to block future infiltrators from entering.”
Commenting on the protest on Saturday night, one of the main organisers of which, were the Druze community, he added: “The deep ties with the Druze community and our commitment to them are vital…we we will set up a special ministerial committee to advance this bond and commitment.”
He concluded by saying: “we will also honour those who serve in the IDF and the security forces of all religions and members of all communities.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
