Rivlin: Rethink national symbols, anthem to be more inclusive for Arabs
President says Arab Israelis can't be expected to sing about 'a Jewish spirit yearning,' hopes that every citizen will one day be able to identify with state
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin suggested on Sunday that Israel might consider revising its national symbols and its anthem, “Hatikva,” to make the more inclusive to its Arab community, which makes up over 20 percent of the population.
Speaking to Arab and Jewish students on Sunday at Jerusalem’s Himmelfarb High School, Rivlin said he “can’t expect loyal Israeli citizens who are not Jewish to say that they have ‘a Jewish spirit yearning [as the lyric goes] because they are not Jewish, and maybe their spirit is yearning for their country but not as part of the Jewish people but they are not part of the Jewish people.”
Rivlin was responding to a question by an Arab student who asked if it was possible to change or add anything to the symbols of the state so that Arab citizens can identify with it and feel a part of the country.
Accompanied by Education Minister Naftali Bennett and Jerusalem mayor Nir Barkat, Rivlin said “this dilemma must be solved by Israeli leaders, one of whom is sitting right next to me,” in reference to Bennett.
“The question you are asking needs to be on the national agenda in the next generation or two. This is a dilemma we can’t ignore. It needs to be addressed by leaders, by members of Knesset who were chosen by the people,” Rivlin urged.
“At this point, where we have to base the existence of the state of Israel on a Jewish state, and a democratic one, we have to hold onto and strengthen the Zionist dream which comes, often, causes friction with those citizens who are not Zionist,” he said.
“I await the day that every Israeli citizen can identify with the State of Israel and not just the deep, important idea of the 2,000-year-old quest of the Jewish people to return to their homeland,” he added.
Last year, Rivlin said he understands why Israel’s Arab citizens feel uncomfortable with the national anthem and maintained they should not be forced to sing it.
“I am very touched every time I sing ‘Hatikva’, but I know that my Arab friend doesn’t have a ‘Jewish spirit yearning deep in the heart’,” Rivlin told students, quoting from the lyrics. “I must continue to insist on singing my anthem wherever I wish, but I don’t need to force anyone to sing those words,” he added.