A month ago, the Nationality Law passed in the Knesset and aroused angry reactions among the Arab population and the Druse community. Under the law, it was defined that the Arabic language would not receive special status. MyNet Jerusalem asked the candidates for mayor whether they would have to remove the Arabic script from the municipal signs.
“Who among the candidates for the mayor of Jerusalem thinks that the Arabic inscription should be removed from the municipal signboard?” the newspaper probed. MyNet has asked the same question for all the candidates who declared that they are in the mayoral race. The wording of the question was the same against the background of the Nationality Law.
The candidates who responded unequivocally are Moshe Leon, Ofir Berkowitz, Rachel Azaria, Chaim Epstein, Yossi Chavilov Ze’ev Elkin, and Avi Salman, all stating the existing situation should be left and not exclude and entire segment of the population.
The Nationality Law passed a month ago on second and third readings and aroused great protest among the Druse community and the Arab population. Under the law, it was defined that the Arabic language, which is an official language in Israel, will not be granted special status, as is the case today.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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4 Responses
Why would you do that? It doesn’t cost anything to be multilingual. Its less important in New York since most foreigners are familiar with the same script as English, but in Eretz Yisrael multiple scripts are in use.
As if Eretz Yisroel doesn’t have enough problems from the arabs, who cares about signs?
Who’s writing this article? The law literally says the Arab language HAS “special status” but just not considered a national language which belongs solely to Hebrew. And it also specifically states that this fact doesn’t harm the status of the Arab language as it was prior to passage of the law. (Likely included in the language of the Law for those with this genius idea in mind)
For anyone to think it would be okay or a good thing to remove Arabic from street signs or government building information signs would be akin to UNESCO removing/omitting Israel’s historical ties to Temple Mount, which they hilariously did in a 2016 resolution. Arabs represent 35% of Jerusalem’s population and are part and parcel of the city whether you like it or not. Why can’t signs be in both languages?
If you proudly boast to your iPhone screen when you read a horribly slanted story on BBC or watch CNN reporting on “security clashes” in the West Bank, that “Israel is the only democratic country in the Middle East where Arabs can feel safe and free and are equal to Israeli’s, and are in the Knesset (a favorite proof), and are EVEN Judges (another favorite proof) etc etc…..”
….. Then maybe don’t try to change the language on the street signs of the equal citizen.
This article is totally ignorant. Don’t you realise there are Arab israeli citizens who vote in elections and also do that thing where they go to work and pay taxes? I’m no two-state advocate, but don’t be ignorant.