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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Anger over Palestinian Nakba ban proposal | Anger over Palestinian Nakba ban proposal |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| Israeli campaigners and left-wing lawmakers have condemned moves to ban Israeli Arabs from marking the Nakba - the "catastrophe" of Israel's creation. | Israeli campaigners and left-wing lawmakers have condemned moves to ban Israeli Arabs from marking the Nakba - the "catastrophe" of Israel's creation. |
| On Sunday a government panel backed putting the bill, proposed by the party of far-right Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, before the Israeli Knesset. | On Sunday a government panel backed putting the bill, proposed by the party of far-right Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, before the Israeli Knesset. |
| A Labour minister opposed it; Hadash, a mainly Arab party, called it "racist". | A Labour minister opposed it; Hadash, a mainly Arab party, called it "racist". |
| Some 700,000 Palestinians fled or were forced from their homes in the 1948 war after Israel declared independence. | Some 700,000 Palestinians fled or were forced from their homes in the 1948 war after Israel declared independence. |
| About 20% of Israel's population are descended from Arab citizens of British Mandate Palestine who remained on the territory that became Israel. | About 20% of Israel's population are descended from Arab citizens of British Mandate Palestine who remained on the territory that became Israel. |
| Strengthening unity | Strengthening unity |
| Along with Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza and around the world, Israeli Arabs mark the yearly Nakba anniversary on 15 May with mourning and commemoration events. | Along with Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza and around the world, Israeli Arabs mark the yearly Nakba anniversary on 15 May with mourning and commemoration events. |
| The bill could impair freedom of expression and freedom of protest and achieve the opposite goal Social Affairs Minister Isaac Herzog | The bill could impair freedom of expression and freedom of protest and achieve the opposite goal Social Affairs Minister Isaac Herzog |
| Israelis celebrate their Independence Day, marking the creation of their state, at the same time of year, although according to the Hebrew calendar. | Israelis celebrate their Independence Day, marking the creation of their state, at the same time of year, although according to the Hebrew calendar. |
| Under the proposed legislation, people caught marking the Nakba could be jailed for up to three years. | Under the proposed legislation, people caught marking the Nakba could be jailed for up to three years. |
| Avigdor Lieberman's party, Yisrael Beiteinu, says the bill is "intended to strengthen unity in the state of Israel". | Avigdor Lieberman's party, Yisrael Beiteinu, says the bill is "intended to strengthen unity in the state of Israel". |
| The Hadash MK Hanna Swaid called it "racist and immoral" and "a fierce insult on democratic and political rights". | The Hadash MK Hanna Swaid called it "racist and immoral" and "a fierce insult on democratic and political rights". |
| Social Affairs Minister Isaac Herzog, said it "could impair freedom of expression and freedom of protest and achieve the opposite goal - increasing alienation and strengthening extremists". | Social Affairs Minister Isaac Herzog, said it "could impair freedom of expression and freedom of protest and achieve the opposite goal - increasing alienation and strengthening extremists". |
| He is a member of the Labour party, which is part of the right-leaning governing coalition, together with Yisrael Beiteinu party and led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party. | He is a member of the Labour party, which is part of the right-leaning governing coalition, together with Yisrael Beiteinu party and led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party. |
| Legitimate right | Legitimate right |
| Correspondents say that although there have been unsuccessful attempts to introduce similar bills in the past, the right-wing make-up of the current government gives this one more chance of passing - although it has many hurdles to clear yet. | Correspondents say that although there have been unsuccessful attempts to introduce similar bills in the past, the right-wing make-up of the current government gives this one more chance of passing - although it has many hurdles to clear yet. |
| An Israeli rights organisation, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, (Acri) said the committee's initial approval of the bill was "a sign of a democracy losing its bearings". | An Israeli rights organisation, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, (Acri) said the committee's initial approval of the bill was "a sign of a democracy losing its bearings". |
| "Marking the Nakba does not threaten the safety of the State of Israel, but is rather a legitimate and fundamental human right of any person, group or people, expressing grief at the face of a disaster they experienced," said Acri president Sammi Michael. | "Marking the Nakba does not threaten the safety of the State of Israel, but is rather a legitimate and fundamental human right of any person, group or people, expressing grief at the face of a disaster they experienced," said Acri president Sammi Michael. |
| Mr Lieberman's party also wants to introduce a loyalty pledge, which would demand that Israeli-Arabs swear allegiance to Israel as a "Jewish, Zionist and democratic" state, before they can be issued with their ID papers. | Mr Lieberman's party also wants to introduce a loyalty pledge, which would demand that Israeli-Arabs swear allegiance to Israel as a "Jewish, Zionist and democratic" state, before they can be issued with their ID papers. |
| Israel Beiteinu spokesman Tal Nahum said the measure would be discussed by the cabinet on Sunday and the first parliamentary vote would be the following Wednesday. | Israel Beiteinu spokesman Tal Nahum said the measure would be discussed by the cabinet on Sunday and the first parliamentary vote would be the following Wednesday. |
| Avigdor Lieberman raised concerns during Israeli military operations in Gaza in January and December that some Israeli-Arabs were openly expressing sympathy with Hamas - which controls Gaza and which launches militant attacks on Israel and which, in its charter, is sworn to the state's destruction. |