Knesset Bill Would Relegate Arabic To Secondary Status

Because there is not enough controversy in Israel...

Knesset Hawks Move To Strip Arabic of Official Status in Israel
Israeli Arab Lawmaker: Effort Will Harm Minority’s Ties to the State

In a move that is being condemned for its effect on the already fragile relations between Israel and its Arab minority, right-wing lawmakers are trying to strip Arabic of its status alongside Hebrew as an official language of the state.

Since the establishment of Israel in 1948, Hebrew and Arabic have been its sole official languages. Later this month, however, a bill to relegate Arabic to the status of “secondary language” and elevate Hebrew to sole “primary language” will have its preliminary reading in the Knesset. The bill names English and Russian, which currently have no formal standing, as secondary languages alongside Arabic.

The proponents of the bill — deputy Knesset speaker Otniel Schneller of Kadima, Shas caucus whip Yakov Margi, and Likud lawmakers Limor Livnat and Yuli Edelstein — say it is an important move to preserve the Jewish character of the country. They view it as a counteroffensive against calls from Arab Israeli citizens for symbols of state, such as the national anthem and flag, to be made less Jewish and more representative of all Israel’s citizens.

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There are valid arguments both ways--I just wonder if a move like this would be one more step towards towards strengthening Israel's ties towards European culture and worldview and weakening that same tie to the Middle East.

Of course, there are those who would say that is a good thing.

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