Israel tells US to keep off its internal affairs

Washington says Israel’s new ‘ Jewish state’ law will disenfranchise the Palestinian minority

Israeli officials have rebuked the US for meddling in their country’s domestic affairs after it voiced concerns about efforts to enshrine Israel’s Jewish character in law.

Critics say such proposals, approved by Israel’s cabinet on November 23, would disenfranchise the country’s Palestinian minor- ity. In Washington yesterday, US State Department spokesman Jeffrey Rathke said “we would expect any final legislation to continue Israel’s commitment to democratic principles.”

“I say to the Americans, we will manage Israel’s affairs,” Israeli Economy Minister Naftali Bennett, an ardent proponent of the legislation, told Army Radio yesterday. “In the end it’s our problem, it’s a domestic problem and I don’t think anyone has the right to get involved.”

“We can safeguard our democratic principles without any joint assistance from across the oceans,” Israeli lawmaker Zeev Elkin, who chairs the ruling coalition headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, was quoted by the Yisrael Hayom daily as saying.

Democracy diminished

Israeli Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein has questioned the constitutionality of such a law, saying it would “diminish” the country’s democracy. Netanyahu says legislation is necessary to defend the principle of Israel as the ‘ Jewish State’ at a time when its legitimacy is under attack.

The Jewish nation- state bill has divided Netanyahu’s government, raising the prospect of a possible cabinet reshuffle or early elections. Finance Minister Yair Lapid and Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, whose parties enable the government to maintain a parliamentary majority, voted against the proposal in the cabinet and have said they will not support its becoming law.

Efforts are being made to formulate a compromise proposal that would be acceptable to Lapid and Livni before an initial parliamentary vote next week.