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19 Shevat 5760 - January 26, 2000 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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News
Proposed Cancellation of Nationality Clause on Identity Cards Rejected

by Eliezer Rauchberger

A large majority of the Knesset plenum rejected two proposed laws last week which had been presented for preliminary readings. Both proposals were presented by Roman Bronfman (Ta'al) and Yuri Stern (Israel Beiteinu).

One was cancelling the listing of nationality on personal identity cards (teudat zehut). Although the nationality information on the ID card is not considered reliable (the card itself proclaims this information is not reliable), its presence has considerable emotional content.

Although the Government opposed the proposal to cancel the nationality listing, a number of Knesset Coalition members supported it, among them Meretz members; Roni Milo (Center), Sofa Landber, and Speaker of the Knesset, Avraham Burg (One Israel), as well as Deputy Minister Marina Solodkin of Yisrael Ba'Aliya.

Minister for Religious Affairs Yitzhak Cohen (Shas), who expressed opposition to the proposed law in the name of the Government, said that the ramifications of the "nationality" clause in the State of Israel are unlike those of other countries. In Israel, he explained, we are referring to the Jewish nation, and the records must make that clear. Cohen noted that although Minister of Internal Affairs Natan Sharansky opposes the proposal, he could not attend the discussion because of illness. Meretz' voting against the government provoked the ire of Shas representatives who were angry at Meretz for having supported the law in violation of the Government's and the coalition decision.

Later, MK Yossi Paritzki of Shinui suggested a proposal to forbid advertising on pirate radio stations as well as playing them in public places. This proposal was also rejected by a large majority of the coalition. In this instance, however, the Meretz Knesset members also supported the proposal.

The tension between Shas and Meretz escalated, erupting when Deputy Minister Yitzhak Vaknin hurled harsh remarks at Education Minister Yossi Sarid, calling him "antisemitic" because Sarid has yet to transfer money to the Maayan Hachinuch HaTorani network, despite the fact that the Knesset Finance Committee has approved the transfer, and it was the subject of an explicit agreement before the budget vote.

In the wake of Vaknin's remarks, a commotion erupted in the Knesset plenum which intensified after Ilan Gila'on of Meretz' sharp response. The meeting chairman was forced to announce a recess in order to calm the soaring spirits. The various sides later apologized, and peace and quiet returned to the Knesset plenum.


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