Benjamin Netanyahu stands firm on controversial Nation-State Law

Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed his backing to the controversial Nation-State Law, insisting it doesn’t harm anyone and will “guarantee for future generations that Israel will be the nation-state of the Jews”.

Speaking the day after an estimated 50,000 people marched in protest in Rabin Square, Netanyahu told the cabinet on Sunday that the law is important for future generations. He said: “Without the Nation-State Law, it is impossible to guarantee for future generations that Israel will be the nation-state of the Jews.”

Saying how the law didn’t harm – on intends to – the individual rights of minorities living in the country, he added how Israel is a Jewish and democratic state, how the democratic nature of the state is anchored in numerous laws and that The Nation-State law was necessary to enshrine the Jewish nature of the state.

He said: “The Nation-State law first of all enshrines the Law of Return, and raise it to another level – that law, of course, gives an automatic right to Jews, and only to them, to immigrate to Israel and receive citizenship.

“It prevents the exploitation of the family unification clause, which has led to the absorption of tens of thousands of Palestinians since the Oslo Accords, and this law helps prevent the continued entry into Israel of Palestinians without supervision. This law may also help us to block future infiltrators from entering.”

Commenting on the protest on Saturday night, one of the main organisers of which, were the Druze community, he added: “The deep ties with the Druze community and our commitment to them are vital…we we will set up a special ministerial committee to advance this bond and commitment.”

He concluded by saying: “we will also honour those who serve in the IDF and the security forces of all religions and members of all communities.”