New law would define Israel as belonging to a global Jewish nation rather than its citizens, ending any pretence it is a liberal democracy, say experts<\/p>\n
As Israeli legislators returned to parliament this week, ending the long summer recess, Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s government announced a packed agenda of reforms designed to push Israel yet further to the right.<\/p>\n
Legislative proposals include weakening the supreme court\u2019s powers of judicial review, cracking down on left-wing civil-society organisations, expanding Jerusalem\u2019s boundaries to include more Jewish settlements, and allowing the forcible deportation of mainly African asylum seekers.<\/p>\n
But none is likely to prove as controversial \u2013 or gain as much attention \u2013 as a measure concerning Israel\u2019s status as a Jewish state.<\/p>\n
This long-gestating bill is intended to join 11 existing Basic Laws, Israel\u2019s equivalent of a constitution. Netanyahu appears to be basing his wider legislative assault on the success of the proposed Basic Law: Israel as the Nation-State of the Jewish people.<\/p>\n
Its purpose is to give a constitutional-like standing to Israel\u2019s definition as a state that belongs not to its citizens \u2013 as is the case in a liberal democracy \u2013 but to all Jews around the world, including those with no connection to Israel.<\/p>\n
Additionally, the bill is expected to downgrade the status of Arabic, the mother tongue of a fifth of Israel\u2019s population. It will also require the Israeli courts to give due weight in…<\/p>\n<\/div>\n