Ameinu Condemns Israel’s Decision to Limit Democracy

New York, NY, November 24, 2014
CONTACT: Hiam Simon
212 366-1194
hiam@ameinu.net
www.ameinu.net

Ameinu Condemns the Israeli Cabinet Decision to Limit Democracy for all of Its Citizens

Ameinu is deeply disturbed by yesterday’s approval of a bill by the Israeli cabinet which would enshrine into law that Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people and elevate Jewish primacy over equal rights. “This inflammatory and unnecessary bill is the most recent and most egregious example of the current government’s profound lack of respect and understanding of the precepts of democracy,” said Gideon Aronoff, CEO of Ameinu. It is impossible to view this bill without considering the current government’s continuing efforts to blur the lines between Israel and the occupied territory, its negligence with regard to the rights of Israel’s Arab citizens and its damaging position with regard to asylum seekers.” Aronoff added.

The United Nations recognized the Jewish people’s right to a homeland in 1947 and the sovereign State of Israel, based on this right, has been in existence for over 68 years. Israel’s Declaration of Independence states that       “the State of Israel will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture.” This proposed bill undermines the principles upon which Israel was founded.

“What is particularly troubling is that many of Israel’s so called friends in the United States show a similar disregard for Israel’s democracy,” said Kenneth Bob, President of Ameinu. “At this time when the peace process has ground to a halt and Israel’s legitimacy is increasingly called into question, a bill such as this one does nothing to advance Israel’s international standing. Just the opposite: it only provides more ammunition for Israel’s critics. For the sake of Israel’s future, Ameinu calls on Israel’s Knesset not to pass this bill,” Bob concluded.

About Ameinu:

Ameinu, the leading progressive Zionist membership organization in the United States, is dedicated to promoting a negotiated peace between Israel, the Palestinians and the Arab states, and to social and economic justice for all in Israel and America.

Ameinu reinforces Jewish continuity through support for Habonim Dror, the Labor Zionist youth movement, and management of the Kibbutz Program Center which sends 100’s of young adults on unique Israel experiential journeys every year.