Lapid says he supports Jewish state bill, but not current version

Yesh Atid chairman Yair Lapid says that he supports the idea of a nation-state bill to define Israel as a Jewish state but cannot back the current version of the law being put forward by Likud MK Avi Dichter.

“We support the Jewish state law, but what was passed yesterday was not the Jewish state law,” Lapid tells his weekly faction meeting, referring to yesterday’s vote in the Ministerial Committee for Legislation allowing the law to progress to the Knesset.

Lapid says he would vote for Likud MK Benny Begin’s version of the law, which is just a short paragraph-long declaration of the Jewish nature of the state. He will not, however support Dichter’s, which includes a number of controversial clauses, including downgrading Arabic from an official language to one of “special status.”

“If the coalition is serious and it really wants to pass a nation-state bill with wide support, then we will support it,” Lapid says.

“But with this, they are trying to create chasms within Israel and its unnecessary. The bill creates many, many problems,” he adds.

Asked what specific changes would be needed for the bill to receive the support of the party, Yesh Atid MK Yael German tells The Times of Israel that it would need to enshrine, in writing, “equal rights for all citizens.”

— Raoul Wootliff