Gabbay, Livni propose Declaration of Independence as Israel’s constitution
Zionist Union party Chairman Avi Gabbay and opposition leader Tzipi Livni announced their intention to transform Israel’s Declaration of Independence, signed at the country’s founding on May 14, 1948, into the constitution of the State of Israel.
“The Declaration of Independence will be a Basic Law stating that the State of Israel will be the nation-state of the Jewish People with equal rights for all its citizens, and will retain its character as a Jewish and democratic state,” said a joint statement to the press released by Gabbay and Livni Saturday.
“These are the foundations on which the state and society were built, and we will not allow them to be damaged.
“The leaders of the Jewish public in Israel from all parties and camps adhered to these principles in a moment of unity, putting aside their differences and political calculations in order to face the challenge of establishing the state, and this is the compass that needs to point our way today as well,” the statement said. “Netanyahu’s insistence not to include the word ‘equality’ in the Nation-State Law proves his intention to sow discord in Israeli society. We will unite around the Declaration of Independence,” Gabbay and Livni said.
Despite years of parliamentary discussions, Israel does not have a written constitution. The Knesset has passed a series of Basic Laws, the latest of which is the controversial Nation-State Law passed in July, that have constitutional force.
The Jewish Nation-State Law declares Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people. It anchors in law the state’s menorah emblem, Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, national holidays and the right of all Israeli residents to preserve their heritage without consideration of religion and nationality. The law also downgrades the status of Arabic from an official to a “special” language.
Gabbay and Livni’s announcement comes after widespread protests against the NationState Law’s perceived discrimination against Israel’s non-Jewish citizens, particularly from Arab-Israelis who make up some 20% of the country’s population.