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Possible compromise reported on ‘Jewish State’ Bill

[ssba]

Israeli media reports that a compromise has been reached on a row over the Nationality Bill that had threatened to bring down Israel’s coalition Government.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly produced a new draft of the bill which removes many of the more controversial measures it proposed.

Reports differ as to the content of the new draft, but broadly agree that the new draft bill will not define Hebrew as Israel’s sole national language to the detriment of Arabic. It will also reportedly omit references to Jewish law as a source of inspiration for judicial rulings.

Those more controversial clauses appeared in a version of the bill proposed by Likud MK Zeev Elkin. Elkin’s bill was supported by the Jewish Home party but was blocked by Justice Minister Tzipi Livni last week. Livni then began to draft her own version of the bill.

Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett insisted that the bill was a critical part of the original coalition agreement, and threatened to leave the coalition government if the bill was dropped.

Netanyahu’s draft defines Israel as the national homeland of the Jewish people but also a democratic state. It strips out most of the parts of the law that would have actual legal effect.

Concerns remain that any version of the bill might exacerbate tensions. Legal expert Ruth Gavison warns in Haaretz today that matters of national identity are not best resolved through legislation.

Versions of the Nationality Bill have been proposed unsuccessfully for a few years. A similar bill caused controversy and debate when submitted to the previous Knesset.Israel already has laws which enshrine the rights of the individual and which legislate against racial discrimination.