Israeli Cabinet Approves Measure Formalizing Israel’s Status As Jewish State – But Yair Lapid Opposes

The Israeli cabinet voted today in favor of “Basic Law: Israel as the Nation-State of the Jewish People,” legislation that cements Israel’s status as a Jewish state.

The bill, whose opponents included Yesh Atid party head Yair Lapid and Hatnuah party head Tzipi Livni, confirms that Israel is the national home of the Jewish people and a place where Jews have the historical right to realize their aspiration for self-determination. Additionally, that right to national self-determination in Israel is unique to Jews, the legislation states. The rights of all minorities in Israel are also protected.

“Israel is a Jewish and democratic state. There are those who wish to see the democratic aspect overshadow the Jewish aspect, and there are those who wish to see the Jewish aspect overshadow the democratic aspect. The principles of the bill that I present here today ensure that these two values are equal and are given equal consideration,” Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu said before the bill’s passage.

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{Matzav.com Israel}