In the shadow of a Supreme Court ruling compelling Tel Aviv City Hall to enforce the law and close stores operating on Shabbos, MKs Ayelet Shaked(Bayit Yehudi), Yariv Levin (Likud), Ruth Calderon (Yesh Atid) and Robert Ilatov (Yisrael Beitenu) are pushing a bill that seeks to define Israel as a Jewish state. The bill, entitled Israel National Jewish State Bill explains that the declaration of independence defines Israel as the “democratic national home for the Jewish People” but there is no reference to the Jewish religion.

Interestingly, the bill is presented at a time when Arab MKs are discussing amending the Hatikvah national anthem to better encompass all the citizens of the state, not just the Jews. On that same line, MK (Hadash) Mohammad Barakeh was quick to condemn the bill, calling it racist in nature.

The bill will undoubtedly stir the debate of Yiddishkheit and democracy, and having to define the priorities of the nation. The wording of the bill takes the 1992 Basic Law defining Man & Liberty into account, a bill that defines the democratic nature of Israeli society. The bill states that if and when democracy and Yiddishkheit collide, the High Court will be relied upon to render a decision.

No less interesting is the fact that among supporters of the bill are MKs from Yesh Atid and the Yisrael Beitenu parties.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)