Meeting with Druze leaders, Netanyahu rebuffs calls to alter nation-state law

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with Druze heads of regional councils on the nation-state law amid ongoing complaints from members over the legislation.

Also taking part in the meeting are Tourism Minister Yariv Levin and Communications Minister Ayoub Kara, a member of the ruling Likud party and the only Druze member of the cabinet.

Netanyahu reiterates he opposes altering the law, which defines Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people.

“There are unceasing attempts to undo the definition of the State of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people. We passed the nation-state law in order to ensure that Israel remains the nation-state of our people — this is the purpose of the state’s existence,” a statement from Netanyahu’s office quotes him as saying.

“The law does not diminish the individual rights of anyone,” the prime minister adds.

Acknowledging the “true feelings” of the Druze community, Netanyahu says his chief of staff of Yoav Horowitz will head a team tasked with presenting recommendations for how to “strengthen the the important ties between us.”

ראש הממשלה נתניהו והשרים יריב לוין ואיוב קרא נפגשו היום עם ראשי מועצות מהמגזר הדרוזי כחלק מהשיחות שמקיים רה״מ עם בני העדה בימים האחרונים. pic.twitter.com/f1lR2INKDU

— ראש ממשלת ישראל (@IsraeliPM_heb) July 29, 2018