Turkey’s MHP leader Mehmet Bahçeli
The leader of Turkey’s Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) on Friday slammed Israel’s recently approved "Jewish nation-state" law.
"Israel is moving step by step towards disaster, playing with fire and also regional and global balances," Devlet Bahceli wrote on Twitter.
On Thursday, the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) approved the law, which describes Israel as “the nation-state of the Jewish people.”
Germany’s government on Friday was silent on Israel’s recently approved “Jewish nation-state” law.During her annual news conference on Friday, Chancellor Angela Merkel declined to comment on the controversial law, which has been widely criticized by rights groups. “I don’t want to interfere with the internal affairs of Israel,” Merkel said when asked her opinion of the law, but underlined that she was closely following the debate.Turkey slams Israel's 'Jewish nation-state' lawEU expresses concern over Israel's Jewish nation-state law“I strongly believe in the right of existence of a Jewish democratic state. Besides, together with a viable Palestinian state. But unfortunately we have only been able to make little progress on that and are still working on it,” she said. The chancellor also underlined the importance of “protecting minorities” in a democracy, referring to the debate in Israel on the controversial law.Merkel has been a strong supporter of Israel and pursued policies meant to deepen ties between the two states. She has repeatedly underlined Germany’s historical responsibility due to the Holocaust, and said that Israel’s security is "part of Germany’s reason of state."‘Extremist’ Israeli legislation draws storm of outrageOn Thursday, the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) approved the law, which describes Israel as “the nation-state of the Jewish people.”The legislation further states that a “united Jerusalem” is the capital of Israel and that Hebrew is the country's official language, stripping Arabic of its earlier designation as an official language while recognizing its “special status.”It was approved by a vote of 62-55 in a tumultuous assembly session in which Arab lawmakers decried what they called “Israeli racism against the Arab minority.”Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for his part, has hailed the legislation, describing its passage as a “defining moment for Zionism and Israel.”Turkey has denounced the legislation for trying to strip Palestinians of their rights.
Germany silent on Israel’s ‘Jewish nation-state’ law
Turkey on Thursday slammed a new Jewish nation-state law passed by Israel's Knesset, saying it "disregards" norms of universal law. In a statement, the Foreign Ministry said: “The Jewish nation-state law passed by the Israeli parliament today disregards norms of universal law and ignores the rights of Palestinians.”"The international community must also react to the law, which aims to justify the unlawful occupation of Palestine by the Israeli government and remove the possibility of a two-state solution," it added.EU expresses concern over Israel's Jewish nation-state lawIsrael passed the "nation-state" law earlier on Thursday after months of political argument by a vote of 62 to 55 in a tumultuous Knesset session in which Arab lawmakers slammed what they described as “Israeli racism against the Arab minority.”The law stipulates that "Israel is the historic homeland of the Jewish people and they have an exclusive right to national self-determination in it".It also strips Arabic of its designation as an official language alongside Hebrew, downgrading it to a "special status" that enables its continued use within Israeli institutions.142 Palestinians martyred since Gaza rallies beganIsrael adopts divisive Jewish nation-state law
Turkey slams Israel's 'Jewish nation-state' law
The legislation further states that a “united Jerusalem” is the capital of Israel and that Hebrew is the country's official language, stripping Arabic of its earlier designation as an official language while recognizing its “special status.”
It was approved by a vote of 62-55 in a tumultuous assembly session in which Arab lawmakers decried what they called “Israeli racism against the Arab minority.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for his part, has hailed the legislation, describing its passage as a “defining moment for Zionism and Israel.”
Turkey has denounced the legislation for trying to strip Palestinians of their rights.