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| Israel's new government fails to extend controversial citizenship law | Israel's new government fails to extend controversial citizenship law |
| (4 months later) | |
| The vote was the first major political test for Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's coalition | The vote was the first major political test for Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's coalition |
| Israel's parliament has failed to pass an extension to a controversial law barring Palestinians from the occupied West Bank or Gaza who marry Israelis from being granted citizenship rights. | Israel's parliament has failed to pass an extension to a controversial law barring Palestinians from the occupied West Bank or Gaza who marry Israelis from being granted citizenship rights. |
| After a debate that lasted through the night, the vote was tied 59 to 59. | After a debate that lasted through the night, the vote was tied 59 to 59. |
| It was the first big defeat for Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's government since it took office last month. | It was the first big defeat for Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's government since it took office last month. |
| The legislation, which critics say is discriminatory, will expire at the end of Tuesday unless there is a new vote. | The legislation, which critics say is discriminatory, will expire at the end of Tuesday unless there is a new vote. |
| Thousands of Palestinians previously unable to claim citizenship rights may now be able to do so, although the interior minister will still have the power to reject applications on a case-by-case basis. | Thousands of Palestinians previously unable to claim citizenship rights may now be able to do so, although the interior minister will still have the power to reject applications on a case-by-case basis. |
| Israel's new PM Bennett promises to unite nation | Israel's new PM Bennett promises to unite nation |
| The rise of Naftali Bennett, Israel's new PM | The rise of Naftali Bennett, Israel's new PM |
| Mr Bennett set up the vote on the citizenship law as a vote of confidence in his new ideologically diverse government, which comprises eight left-wing, centrist, right-wing and Arab parties and has a razor-thin majority of one seat in the 120-seat parliament. | Mr Bennett set up the vote on the citizenship law as a vote of confidence in his new ideologically diverse government, which comprises eight left-wing, centrist, right-wing and Arab parties and has a razor-thin majority of one seat in the 120-seat parliament. |
| He had hoped a compromise tabled on Monday would be accepted. It would have extended the law by six months, rather than a year, and seen about 1,600 Palestinians living in Israel granted residency rights. | He had hoped a compromise tabled on Monday would be accepted. It would have extended the law by six months, rather than a year, and seen about 1,600 Palestinians living in Israel granted residency rights. |
| But in a tense, late-night session, Mr Bennett's government came up short, with one member of his right-wing nationalist Yamina party among those who voted against an extension. There were also two abstentions from the United Arab List, a party representing Israel's Arab minority that sits in the coalition. | But in a tense, late-night session, Mr Bennett's government came up short, with one member of his right-wing nationalist Yamina party among those who voted against an extension. There were also two abstentions from the United Arab List, a party representing Israel's Arab minority that sits in the coalition. |
| Right-wing opposition politicians who had previously supported the legislation, led by recently ousted long-time Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, voted against the law to embarrass Mr Bennett. | Right-wing opposition politicians who had previously supported the legislation, led by recently ousted long-time Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, voted against the law to embarrass Mr Bennett. |
| Writing on Twitter afterwards, Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked of Yamina condemned as "madness" the celebrations by members of Mr Netanyahu's Likud party and the far-right Religious Zionism alliance, saying their actions would "lead to 15,000 citizenship applications". | Writing on Twitter afterwards, Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked of Yamina condemned as "madness" the celebrations by members of Mr Netanyahu's Likud party and the far-right Religious Zionism alliance, saying their actions would "lead to 15,000 citizenship applications". |
| Israeli Arabs protested against the citizenship law outside the parliament building on Monday | Israeli Arabs protested against the citizenship law outside the parliament building on Monday |
| Mr Bennett later accused the opposition of choosing "petty politics over the benefit of Israeli citizens". | Mr Bennett later accused the opposition of choosing "petty politics over the benefit of Israeli citizens". |
| "The opposition deliberately took a direct strike at the state's security, out of some sort of bitterness and frustration," he said. "They ultimately harmed the good of the country." | "The opposition deliberately took a direct strike at the state's security, out of some sort of bitterness and frustration," he said. "They ultimately harmed the good of the country." |
| He promised to "fix the matter and present the public with good solutions". | He promised to "fix the matter and present the public with good solutions". |
| Likud responded by accusing the prime minister of "insolence". | Likud responded by accusing the prime minister of "insolence". |
| "He's talking about damaging national security? Someone who formed a weak coalition that relies on the votes of the extreme left and post-Zionist parties should not pretend to care about Israel's security," the party said in a statement, according to the Times of Israel. | "He's talking about damaging national security? Someone who formed a weak coalition that relies on the votes of the extreme left and post-Zionist parties should not pretend to care about Israel's security," the party said in a statement, according to the Times of Israel. |
| The Citizenship and Entry Law was originally passed in 2003, at the time of the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising, when Palestinian militants were carrying out attacks inside Israel. | The Citizenship and Entry Law was originally passed in 2003, at the time of the second Palestinian intifada, or uprising, when Palestinian militants were carrying out attacks inside Israel. |
| The authorities have renewed it every year since, citing security reasons. | The authorities have renewed it every year since, citing security reasons. |
| However, critics believe it is motivated by the desire to maintain a Jewish majority in Israel. | However, critics believe it is motivated by the desire to maintain a Jewish majority in Israel. |
| An Israeli Arab who attended a protest outside parliament on Monday said his family had been confined to a "continuous prison" as a result of the law. | An Israeli Arab who attended a protest outside parliament on Monday said his family had been confined to a "continuous prison" as a result of the law. |
| "I am asking for rights that the state owes us... for my wife to have Israeli ID, residency rights and freedom of movement," Ali Meteb told AFP news agency. | "I am asking for rights that the state owes us... for my wife to have Israeli ID, residency rights and freedom of movement," Ali Meteb told AFP news agency. |
| Asmahan Jabali, a woman who has been married to an Israeli for 26 years but does not have Israeli citizenship, told Reuters after Tuesday's vote: "This is a temporary victory, but it is only the beginning." | Asmahan Jabali, a woman who has been married to an Israeli for 26 years but does not have Israeli citizenship, told Reuters after Tuesday's vote: "This is a temporary victory, but it is only the beginning." |
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| Israel's new Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, addresses the Knesset at his first cabinet meeting | Israel's new Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, addresses the Knesset at his first cabinet meeting |