Israeli Cabinet approves legislation on proposed Jewish homeland

JERUSALEM – Israel’s Cabinet on Sunday approved legislation defining Israel as the national homeland of the Jewish people, a measure critics decried as racist and a threat to democracy.

At the same time, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the drafting of legislation that would allow the revocation of Jerusalem residency for Palestinians who carry out terrorist attacks, and that of their families as well.

The actions were likely to fuel tensions between Israel and its Arab citizens, who make up about 20 percent of the population, and between Israeli authorities and the 300,000 Palestinians who live in East Jerusalem, which was annexed by Israel in 1967. Most of the Palestinians have residency rights but not citizenship.

Israel has been on edge after attacks by Palestinians that have killed 11 people since Oct. 22, including five who were slain last week at a Jerusalem synagogue.

The homeland measure, if finalized by the Knesset, or parliament, would become part of Israel’s “basic law,” or legislation forming a de facto constitution. Although the principle of Israel’s essentially Jewish character is legally enshrined elsewhere, this would be the rough equivalent of a constitutional amendment, giving it heavy symbolic weight at a sensitive time.

The issue is inflammatory, with potentially broad implications for Israel’s future, either side by side with a future Palestinian state or as a single entity incorporating what would inexorably become an Arab majority.

But most observers see short-term coalition politics as the driving force behind the current debate, as Netanyahu jockeys to consolidate his support among his right-wing base, and more centrist elements of his government gird themselves for a confrontation, perhaps as soon as this week, that could lead to a splintering of the ruling coalition.

Since taking office in 2009, Netanyahu has demanded that Palestinians recognize Israel as the nation-state of the Jews as part of any permanent peace agreement. Sunday’s Cabinet vote approved elements of two versions drafted by coalition lawmakers and supported by the prime minister.

One version of the bill would designate Hebrew as Israel’s only official language and grant Arabic an unspecified “special status” instead. Arabic has been an official language alongside Hebrew since the days of the British Mandate over Palestine.