Israeli Arab group proposes new 'multi-cultural' constitution

[oberliner]

A proposed constitution written by the Israeli Arab advocacy center, Adalah, states that Arab Knesset members will be able to bring about the disqualification of bills that impinge on the rights of Arabs, and classifies the State of Israel as a "bilingual and multicultural" country rather than a Jewish state.

The proposal, entitled "The Democratic Constitution," also calls for majority and minority groups to split control of the government in such a way that will strengthen the Arab minority on issues relating to the character of the state.

Adalah's version of the constitution essentially abolishes the Jewish elements of Israel, but allows the Jewish majority to maintain its character through educational and cultural institutions. The proposal invalidates the Law of Return, which grants automatic citizenship to people with at least one Jewish grandparent, and states that citizenship will be granted to those who come to Israel for humanitarian reasons, regardless of their religion.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/831400.html

[Solo_in_MD]

1. Have to wonder when the PA, Syria, Jordan, Eqypt, Iran etc will do the same

[Hunky Dunky]

2. Good point!

Perhaps if any of them were to lead by example (assuming they are serious), this intiative would easily be accomplished. What do you suppose those odds are?

[Violet_Crumble]

6. What makes you think some of those other countries don't have constitutions?

Of course we'll put aside the fact that the PA isn't actually a country...

And I'll ask you the same question I asked the previous poster - what, if anything, do you disagree with in the proposed constitution in the OP?

[Violet_Crumble]

19. For Hunky Dunky...

Seeing as how you mentioned that this thread is the proper place for the discussion we were having in another thread, I thought I'd copy and paste some of it over here...

This is what you said when I pointed out that you hadn't answered the question I asked you: 'As to not answering your other question, I apologize, but frankly, a) I didn't understand what you were asking, b)have never read another country's constitution, and c) didn't know how it applied to my comment, so I wasn't in a position to address it.'

So, my question is very simple. Why would anyone who hasn't even read the constitution of another country pop up in this thread talking as though they do know what is in the constitutions of other countries?

[oberliner]

20. And I would respectfully ask this question again

Do you agree with this element of the proposed constitution?

"The proposal invalidates the Law of Return, which grants automatic citizenship to people with at least one Jewish grandparent."

[Violet_Crumble]

21. Yes, I do agree with it n/t

[Violet_Crumble]

5. And I have to wonder if you actually read the article...

First off, Israel isn't doing anything, which makes a knee-jerk reaction of 'Have to wonder when the PA, Syria, Jordan, Eqypt, Iran etc will do the same' a bit nonsensical. The articke is about one of many proposed constitutions for a country that doesn't have a constition. The Israeli govt is not proposing this particular version of a new constitution, Adalah is. A country such as Jordan has had a constitution since 1952...

I'm curious to know what, if anything, you disagree with in Adalah's proposed Israeli constitution....

[oberliner]

8. Do you agree with this element of the proposed constitution?

"The proposal invalidates the Law of Return, which grants automatic citizenship to people with at least one Jewish grandparent."

Personally, I do not, especially in light of the horrific circumstances that befell the Jewish people in Europe which exacerbated the impetus for the creation of the state in the first place.

[Rage for Order]

3. This will never happen, and probably shouldn't

I found this part most interesting:

"The proposal invalidates the Law of Return, which grants automatic citizenship to people with at least one Jewish grandparent, and states that citizenship will be granted to those who come to Israel for humanitarian reasons, regardless of their religion."

It seems that technically, that would qualify members of Hezbollah to become Israeli citizens. Hezbollah does do some humanitarian work:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070225/lf_afp/lebanonhezbollahus_070225233719

Hezbollah construction firm -- charity or terror group?

SRIFA, Lebanon (AFP) - For Hajj Hussein Lahham, whose house was destroyed by Israeli rockets last summer, the Jihad al-Bina construction company has been a blessing, giving him money and help to build anew.

"Jihad al-Bina's workers are completing the reconstruction of my house, which was leveled by Israeli planes," Hajj Hussein said."The members of Jihad al-Bina are working day and night in southern Lebanon to help people get back on their feet," he added, standing in front of the worksite in the town of Srifa, where 37 people were killed and 250 homes were destroyed during the fierce 34-day Israeli war against Hezbollah.

The company has been around a long time, pointed out a company engineer named Abbas, who declined to give his last name. It was created amid the destruction caused during the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, and "its members have been mobilised to rebuild after the end of each Israeli aggression" since then.

Hezbollah has a solid popular power base because of its social involvement in Lebanese society, and by its own admission it receives financial backing from Iran. Created in 1982 to resist the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon, Hezbollah's social activities include running 14 schools teaching some 14,000 pupils in several areas of the country. It also has two hospitals -- one in the south and the other in the Bekaa Valley -- and 36 clinics where medical treatment is practically free for party members.

more at the link

[oberliner]

4. I think it's meant to start a discussion

I believe this is what people are talking about when they refer to a "three-state solution".

An independent Palestinian state alongside this "bi-national" state.

Three different nations in a sense.

[cali]

7. I agree that it's

main purpose is to spur discussin and draw attention to the inequites in Israeli society. The spokesman says as much. That said, theproposed constitution is one that would completeley eradicate the purpose of Israel's founding, and one that the majority of Israelis support.

[Doondoo]

9. Israeli Arab group proposes new 'multi-cultural' constitution

A proposed constitution written by the Israeli Arab advocacy center, Adalah, states that Arab Knesset members will be able to bring about the disqualification of bills that impinge on the rights of Arabs, and classifies the State of Israel as a "bilingual and multicultural" country rather than a Jewish state.

The proposal, entitled "The Democratic Constitution," also calls for majority and minority groups to split control of the government in such a way that will strengthen the Arab minority on issues relating to the character of the state.

Adalah's version of the constitution essentially abolishes the Jewish elements of Israel, but allows the Jewish majority to maintain its character through educational and cultural institutions. The proposal invalidates the Law of Return, which grants automatic citizenship to people with at least one Jewish grandparent, and states that citizenship will be granted to those who come to Israel for humanitarian reasons, regardless of their religion.

The document states that the "internal refugees" Arab residents and their descendants expelled in 1948 and whose number is estimated at about a quarter of today's Israeli Arab citizens will return to the area where they used to live and receive compensation. The introduction to the proposed constitution demands that Israel recognize its responsibility for the "historical injustices that it caused the Palestinian nation in its entirety," withdraw from the territories and recognize the Palestinian people's right to self-determination. The proposal sets the state's borders along the 1967 cease-fire lines.

.......

Adalah's constitution is the first one proposed by an Arab institution, though there have been many proposed by various Jewish ones. Adalah chairman Prof. Marwan Dwairy said the other proposals are not based on democratic values.

"If this 'Democratic Constitution' succeeds in highlighting the large gaps that exist between it and the other proposals, and generates dialogue and topical public discussion on the nature of the freedoms and rights in the this country, we will see it as an important step," wrote Dwairy.



http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/831400.html

[cali]

10. Clearly this is not a serious proposal but

an attempt to stir debate and garner attention. That's not such a bad thing. I do find it odd though that they're calling for a non-religious state within `967 borders, but make no mention of what should exist in the WB and Gaza. Why not just call for a one state solution?

[pelsar]

14. i actually have no problem with the proposal....

as mentioned its not really serious in that it has a chance of getting anywhere, but it does draw attention to the discrimination that exists in israel. i would say not mentioning the westbank/gaza is pretty obvious....

there is little question what kind of society is being built over there...and its not secular, not based on civil rights, etc....

the arab israelis know this and as much as they "identify as palestinians".....they understand that they're best chances are in israel, hence the proposal, to make change.

[Behind the Aegis]

11. Not even funny.

This is nothing more than attempt to destroy Israel from within. It basically denies the Jewishness of Israel, all the while creating a "bi-national" state. It says nothing of what would happen to Gaza and the West Bank. So, do those areas get to be, yet one more, Arab/Muslim nation, all the while the 'former' "Jewish" nation becomes "multicultural?"

Discussion and equality are great things, but to undo Israel in this way, how would this be different than just attacking it militarily?

[cali]

12. OK, but don't you think it's just possible

that the intent of this is to spur discussion about inequities in Israeli society? It's sometimes hard to draw attention to one's issues unless a provocative approach is used.

[Behind the Aegis]

18. Anything is possible.

While there are certainly many things that need to be addressed in Israel as far as equity goes, I don't know this is the best way. You don't fight/address bigotry, with bigotry.

[The Stranger]

13. To some, everything (but EVERYTHING) is somehow an attempt "to destroy Israel."

It is not even good rhetoric and fails to address grievances stated. This proposes a constitution to create Israel anew. Maybe address that and spare the rhetoric?

[Behind the Aegis]

17. And to some, they will excuse anything (ANYTHING) that is done against Israel.

More often than not, no matter what the method, there are those that seemingly await the death of Israel, one way or the other.

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[oberliner]

16. dupe

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=124x168159