BICOM

A working paper produced by European diplomats in Israel, initiated by Britain, called on the EU to consider the treatment of Israeli-Arabs a ‘core issue’, according to a report in Haaretz today. One of the findings of the document was that the breakdown in the peace process is having a negative impact on the integration of Israeli Arabs in Israeli society. It recommended that, “We should emphasise that addressing inequality within Israel is integral to Israel’s long-term stability.”

However, proposals that the EU should take steps such as filing official protests in response to attempts to pass discriminatory legislation in the Knesset, were dropped when several states objected to them. Lack of consensus among EU states also led to the report, intended for EU foreign ministers, being designated as a “food for thought” document, rather than a “report.”

Referring to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s demand that the Palestinians recognise Israel as a Jewish state, the document stated that a recognition of Israel as a Jewish State should not detract from the vision of equality for all its citizens as stated in Israel’s declaration of independence.

Israel’s declaration of independence enshrines the equal rights of all Israel’s citizens, including its non-Jewish minorities. These rights are also protected in law, and Israel’s Supreme Court has a record of intervening to ensure that these rights are protected in practice.