The Ministerial Judicial Committee is expected to give the green light to the Nakba Bill introduced by MK (Yisrael Beitenu) David Rotem, which seeks to link loyalty to the state with citizenship. The bill would outlaw Nakba celebrations, the day the Arabs call the “catastrophe” in reference to the establishment of the State of Israel. 
 
Rotem, who serves as head of the committee, explains there is an undeniable link between citizenship and loyalty to the state, and those who are not loyal to the state, its values and symbols, may not be citizens. He explained he refers to segments of the population that do not serve in the IDF or sheirut leumi national service.

Opponents to the bill, including Labor’s MK Ofir Pines, warn it will further isolate Israel in the eyes of the international community and it will be perceived as racist in nature. Pines, a member of the Labor rebel faction, is calling on party ministers to announce that if the ministerial committee okays the bill, they must declare a coalition crisis to prevent it from being voted into law.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)