Israeli Legislator Proposes Bill to Give Arabs Full Minority Status

The bill is a response to a right-wing proposal made last week to make Hebrew the only official language in the country, eliminating the use of Arabic in government institutions and public announcements.

Israeli legislator MK Ahmed Tibi announced on Sunday that he will push forward a bill calling for “full civic partnership and recognition of Arabs as a national minority.”

Tibi, an Arab-Israeli politician and leader of the Arab Movement for Change party, plans to submit the bill, a new Basic Law, when the Knesset winter session begins October 26.

According to Tibi, the Basic Law would be based on international charters dealing with minority rights. It will protect the rights of Arabs who live in Israel to cultural diversity and equality, and help protect them against discrimination.

“I challenge Israeli democracy to ensure equality for all its citizens, including Arabs,” Tibi told Haaretz. “If the Knesset and government reject this bill, this will send a strong and clear message regarding the state’s refusal to grant equality to its Arab citizens. It will freeze the current situation of personal and national discrimination in all aspects of life.”

Tibi's proposal comes after right-wing Knesset members announced last week plans to make Hebrew Israel's only official language, eliminating the use of Arabic from public announcements, in the courts and in government ministries.

While the right-wing proposal has the backing of a strong lobby group, Tibi has the backing of other left leaning MKs, including Issawi Freij of the Meretz party.

“We are repeatedly witnessing attempts by the right to rid one-fifth of Israel’s population from the public debate,” Freij told Haaretz.

According to Tibi, “After 66 years since the establishment of the state, the time has come to anchor in a law the value of equality between all citizens by recognizing Arabs as a national minority with recognized basic rights in all areas of life like the right to be equal."

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