Shaked Declares Arab Minority Law ‘Will Never Happen’

Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked (Jewish Home) unequivocally rejected on Wednesday the idea of officially recognizing Israeli Arabs as a national minority, Arutz Sheva reported on Wednesday.

MK Jamal Zahalka (Joint Arab List) made the proposal, to which Shaked responded in the Knesset plenum.

“The proposed law wishes to innovate a new constitutional hierarchy in which the Arab citizens of Israel will have a collective national veto right over decisions by state institutions,” Shaked started off saying.

After noting that the legislative proposal “speaks of democracy and intentionally omits Israel’s status as a Jewish state,” she then turned to the Arab MKs and said: “Ben Gurion would turn over in his grave (if he knew of this law). My friends who proposed this law: You are confused. This will never happen. The national definition of the state of Israel is the one and only state of the Jewish nation.”

She invited proponents of the law to find a more welcoming climate for their sentiments elsewhere.

“National rights for Arab minorities can be attained in our neighboring Arab countries. Whoever wishes to realize his national rights as an Arab is invited to leave to these countries. I can’t promise that he will continue to enjoy the conditions he receives in our villa.”

In response, Zahalka said: “I didn’t think that the justice minister would tell me to leave the country as if she is the master and we are her slaves. We are citizens and will fight for full citizenship and for our full rights despite the efforts of racists and fascists like Shaked.”