MEMO, October 8, 2010


The Arab member in the Israeli Knesset, Haneen Zoabi, has called upon what she called "democratic Jews" to oppose the Israeli citizenship law amendment bill because it is "non-democratic and illegitimate nature".

Reacting to Tel Aviv's intention to adopt the "Israeli citizenship law" amendment bill which requires non-Jews who want to hold Israeli citizenship to pledge their loyalty to Israel as a Jewish democratic state, Zoabi said that "this non-democratic and illegal amendment is further evidence that the 'Jewish state' is not a slogan, but rather the daily practice of racism", arguing that the requirement of the loyalty oath "discriminates against anyone who is not Jewish and claims that citizenship regulation have nothing to do with citizenship but with one's political affiliations."

Zoabi noted that "the battle should now be between the democrats and non-democrats in Israel, not between Arabs and Jews only," and said that "a democratic Jewish state is not possible, but the existence of democratic Israeli citizens is at least a marginal possibility, as what is happening affects their rights also."

The MK expressed optimism about "exposing the racist Jewish state", pointing out that this task "is now becoming easier in light of the intensification of international efforts to address overall Israeli policies, as well as referring to the Supreme Court concerning this amendment."

In this regard, Zoabi stated that "Lieberman has the upper hand in this government as he is the one who governs effectively and crystallizes the political culture in Israel," emphasizing that the resolution supported by the party "Israel Our Home", led by Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman, is "a mishmash of Zionist dogma".

Lieberman had earlier stated that "Zoabi's attitude in the case of the 'Freedom Flotilla' proves the need to enact laws questioning citizens' loyalty to the state".