By Daniel Siryoti, Ariel Kahana, Gideon Allon and Yori Yalon, Israel Hayom—
Despite some Druze leaders’ vocal opposition to the controversial nation-state law, some in the community, as well as within other minorities, are voicing support for the legislation.
The nation-state law defines Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people. The law’s provisions, including the downgrading of the Arabic language from an official language of Israel to one with a “special status,” and the assertion that only Jews have a right to self-determination, have angered Israel’s non-Jewish citizens, who view the law as discriminatory and offensive.
The Druze, a unique religious and ethnic minority among Israeli Arabs, were particularly outraged by the legislation, as most Druze men serve in the Israel Defense Forces and members of the community serve in top positions in Israeli politics and public service.
Chairman of the Druze Zionist Council for Israel Atta Farhat took to Facebook on Sunday to express his support for the law.
“No other Druze community has it better than the Druze community in Israel,” he said in a video. “I implore all of my brethren in the Druze community to avoid the trap set by the Left and back the nation-state law as it is.”
Capt. (res.) Shadi Haloul, head of the Israeli Christian Aramaic Association, who also runs a pre-military preparatory program for Jews and the Christian Arabs, said he was also in favor of the law, claiming that it actually cements the rights of minorities.
“Just look at what has happened to the Maronite Christians who are being persecuted in Lebanon, as well as other minorities there,” Haloul said. “As soon as Israel stops being the state of the Jewish people, as some in radical Left and in the Arab parties want – we will no longer be able to enjoy the freedoms and security Israel provides us. Continue Reading…