[updated:LAST EDITED ON 11-07-02 AT 01:15 PM (GMT)]The government decided on Sunday, July 7th, to support a private law proposal that allows the allocation of land for the development of “Jews only” urban communities. The proposal is designed to bypass earlier supreme court ruling on the subject.
More than two years ago, The Israeli supreme court ruled that the state cannot discriminate between Jewish and non-Jewish citizens in matters of land allocation for housing. The court accepted the appeal of an Arab-Israeli couple that requested to be accepted into the urban community “Katzir” that was founded by the Jewish Agency.
In a response to the above decision, KM Haim Drukman of the Mafdal party, drafted a law proposition that will allow the Jewish Agency and the governmental “land administrate” to bypass the supreme court’s ruling. The proposition allows allocation of land for the development of urban communities restricted for Jews only.
The proposition was signed by half the members of the Knesset, including Ariel Sharon and Moshe Katzav, then KMs in the opposition.
The government first discussed the law proposal on December 2001 and decided to support it. The decision was overturned three weeks later, because of minister Dan Meridor’s campaign against the proposal.
Recently, Education minister Limor Livnat has brought the proposition once again to the table. On a vote that took place last Sunday, 17 ministers supported the proposition. Ministers Meridor and Sné opposed the proposition. Sné left the meeting in protest.
Foreign affairs minister Peres, who was unable to attend the meeting, attacked the proposition and its support and promised that he and the Labour party will fight “this racist decision”. Ministers Meridor and Sné also declared the proposition as having signs of “blatant national racism”.
Haim Drukman, the initiator of the law proposition, expressed his satisfaction from the support he received from the government: “This is a decision that will strengthen the Zionist character of the state of Israel and will encourage Jewish emigration. The proposition is required to correct the distortion created by the ruling of the supreme court, that land cannot be allocated for Jews in the Jewish land.”
Education minister Livnat stated that “The vote in the government was a triumph for those who support Israel as a Jewish Zionist democratic state on those who view Israel as the state of all its citizens.”
* translated from YNET article by Diana Bahor and Smadar Shmueli
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Looks like we’ve got another fundamentalist state. :'( So it is true. I always thought Israel was a multi-cultural democracy, but no, instead they want to give the impression of being a “zionist-only” state.
By: Arabella-Cox - 12th July 2002 at 02:43
RE: “Jews only” urban communit
Actually in American new paper report, I’ve learned all that’s told here and even Skythe’s accounts, except i got the impression that only the left wing members left (meaning many Likud members were there) and that even Sharon like the idea. Anyways, the status quo (irrespective of the laws) is that Arab Israelis still can’t buy properties in prominent Israeli towns due to what in the US would be called 100% racism. If a black man was denied to purchasing a house in Beverly Hills today it will probably cause another riot.
By: Geforce - 11th July 2002 at 20:04
RE: “Jews only” urban communit
Well first of all I only quoted Education minister Livnat. So its up to him to decide if zionist is the propper word. I hope that somebody in his position does know why he uses zionist state, maybe you should ask him.
“Education minister Livnat stated that “The vote in the government was a triumph for those who support Israel as a Jewish Zionist democratic state on those who view Israel as the state of all its citizens.” “
In short, Geforce, don’t count you’re chickens before they’re hatched. This law is about nothing more than a few pathetic legislators who wish to prop up their pathetic position in their pathetic insignificant parties. Israel is not going to change that fast, and not without a fight from those among us who know that this proposition is not what our parents fought for.
Well, than I can only be glad to hear this. Again, the media was wrong, but it is hard to find exact info on this matter. But I know Israel has other things to worry about, but why don’t they put a bit more efforts in their PR to avoid things like this? The European media was already talking about fundemantalists, I don’t know what’s true of it, but Israel should take care of its press relises.
By: skythe - 11th July 2002 at 19:24
RE: “Jews only” urban communit
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 11-07-02 AT 07:26 PM (GMT)]Believe me, Geforce, this law enrages me a great deal more than it enrages you. That dispicable proposition will never make into the law books, for numerous reasons.
The story in the above post is incomplete. The vote mentioned above took place in a cabinet meeting for which it was not planned. Right-wing ministers in effect used the opportunity that the Prime Minister and all Labour ministers but one (Sneh) were out of the room to bring it up. Sharon has already informed the cabinet that despite earlier support, the law in its current form in unacceptable and that it will be amended and returned to the cabinet for a second vote.
Even if they do approve it again at a later date, it still has to go through two Knesset commitees, and three Knesset votes, where it simply does not have the majority to make it into the law books. And even should that disaster happen, it has yet to stand the test of the Supreme Court, which it has no chance of doing considering the court’s Katzir ruling and the law contradiction with Israel constitutional laws. Even the General Attorney has voiced his oposition to the law and it is doubtfull he will agree to defend it before the court.
In short, Geforce, don’t count you’re chickens before they’re hatched. This law is about nothing more than a few pathetic legislators who wish to prop up their pathetic position in their pathetic insignificant parties. Israel is not going to change that fast, and not without a fight from those among us who know that this proposition is not what our parents fought for.
And BTW, the term “Zionist-only” state does not make any sense, it doesn’t mean anything. It is about as logical as “Anarchist-only”, Zionism is an idea, not an identity. Besides, between the two of us Geforce, what do you actually know of Zionism that you flaunt the word that easily?
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U.N. Representative: So, Mr. Evil –
Dr. Evil: It’s Dr. Evil, I didn’t spend six years in Evil Medical School to be called “mister,” thank you very much.
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July 11, 2002 at 1:05 pm