Cameron stands by Israel in wake of Jewish State Bill criticism
Prime Minister David Cameron has cautioned Israel, amid concerns that a new nationality law will turn it into an “apartheid state”.
The proposals seek to enshrine the principles of Israel’s declaration of independence in 1948, which define the country as both Jewish and democratic, as a Basic Law – Israel’s de facto constitution.
But Labour, former Minister, Sir Gerald Kaufman criticised the Israeli government bill at he asked the Prime Minister: “Will you condemn the new Israeli government bill, which removes what are defined as national rights from all Israeli citizens who are not Jews, makes Hebrew the only national language, and has been denounced by the Israeli attorney general as causing a deterioration in the democratic character of the state?
“Would you make clear that statutory repressive removal of citizenship rights on the basis of religion will turn Israel into an apartheid state?”
Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Cameron replied: “One of the reasons I’m such a strong supporter of Israel is that it is a country that has given rights and democracy to its people and it’s very important that that continues.”
He continues to add that “when you look across the region and you look at those indexes of freedom you see thatIsrael is one of the few countries that ticks the boxes in terms of freedom and it’s very important it continues to do so.”
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