Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon, who heads the Kulanu party, is signaling a willingness to back the amended Nationality Bill which would lock Israel’s status into the Basic Law as the national state of the Jewish People. Kahlon found earlier drafts of the bill too controversial and indicated his party would not be counted among the supporters.

After the bill was amended, Kulanu now appears willing to back the legislation with its ten seats. The bill was voted upon in its preliminary reading in Knesset in May 2017.

Some of the Arab MKs in Knesset equated the bill with Apartheid.

Supporters feel that as Israel prepares to mark her 70th anniversary, it must lock into law the fact the state is the homeland of the Jewish People and its official language Hebrew, as well as locking in and protecting the national flag, anthem and other state symbols.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)