'Israel as Jewish state' bill initiative underway

Former Cabinet Secretary Zvi Hauser is currently promoting a bill intended to legally anchor the notion of "Israel as a Jewish state" as one of the country's Basic Laws, which serve in lieu of a constitution.

The Kohelet Policy Forum, whose mission statement is "to secure the future of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish People," held a conference on the issue Sunday, titled "Israel's identity as the Jewish nation state, as a matter of law." Five ministers from across the coalition were invited to speak at the conference, including Interior Minister Gideon Sa'ar (Likud), Justice Minister Tzipi Livni (Hatnuah), Economy and Trade Minister Naftali Bennett (Habayit Hayehudi), Education Minister Shay Piron (Yesh Atid) and Immigrant Absorption Minister Sofa Landver (Yisrael Beytenu).

The conference was chaired by Hauser and former Likud minister Michael Eitan, who have taken it upon themselves to head a steering committee meant to promote public discourse on the issue, which they hope will lead to subsequent legislation.

"At a time when Israel is trying to get the Palestinians to recognize Israel as the Jewish state, we should practice what we preach and do the same," Hauser said Saturday. "It is in poor taste to make such a demand of the Palestinians when Israel itself has yet to anchor the issue as a Basic Law. Naturally, such legislation would not infringe on anyone's civil or human rights, including the Arab sector. As someone who once worked closely with the prime minister, I know he has made this issue one of the core issues of the peace talks."

While the notion of setting the concept of "Israel as a Jewish state" has been explored in the past, it has never been presented to the Knesset in the form of a government bill, which unlike a private bill promoted by an individual MK, would require the coalition's backing before being presented to a plenum vote.

A similar bill was presented during the former Knesset's term by former Kadima MK Avi Dichter, but never matured into a vote. Coalition Chairman MK Yariv Levin (Likud), MK Ayelet Shaked (Habayit Hayehudi) and MK Ruth Calderon (Yesh Atid) have each presented similar bills over the past year, with Calderon's bill proposing to anchor Israel's Declaration of Independence as a Basic Law.

In the absence of a constitution, the Basic Laws of Israel are meant to regulate key issues pertaining to the formation and role of principal state institutions, the relations between various state authorities and the decision-making process of the governing bodies.

The similarities between the various proposals have prompted Livni to task Professor Ruth Gavison, of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, to review the issue and formulate her recommendations accordingly. Gavison, a senior fellow emeritus at the Israel Democracy Institute, was a founding member of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel and is currently a member of the International Commission of Jurists.

Meanwhile, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas commented on the peace talks over the weekend, saying, "The Americans have yet to put a framework agreement together and despite Washington's efforts there are still many hurdles to cross."

Abbas' statement followed a meeting with French President Francois Hollande in Paris, where Abbas also met with U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

A senior member of the Palestinian delegation to Paris told reporters that "Ramallah cannot accept the ideas Kerry presented as the basis for the framework agreement."

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