Knesset Rejects Bill For Equality For All Citizens
By The Middle East Monitor
January 30, 2016 "Information
Clearing House"
- "MEM"
- The
Knesset yesterday voted against a draft bill
proposed by MK Jamal Zahalka of the Joint Arab List,
which stipulates the inclusion of an equality clause
in Israel’s Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty.
The majority of the Likud bloc, the Haredi parties
and Kulanu party voted against the proposal. They
were joined by Yesh Atid, led by Yair Lapid.
However, the Joint List, Meretz and the Labour
parties all supported the bill.
During his
proposal, Zahalka said: “All constitutions in modern
countries begin with stressing the principle of
equality amongst their citizens. Even undemocratic
countries adopt this principle legally, considering
it a cornerstone for any modern political system,
including democracy, which seems impossible and
meaningless without equality.”
Zahalka
also said that equality is a principle in itself and
is not based on any other principles, rather, other
human rights values are derived from it. He
described the absence of equality in the state’s
Basic Law as “a serious absence, as it forces the
judiciary, amongst others, to explain why the word
equality is missing from the basic laws, which are
in place of the constitution.”
He added
that Judge Aharon Barack explained the current law
as human dignity that must also include the
principle of equality. This is why we must include
the word equality in a clear manner in the Basic
Law.
“Anyone
voting against the law is voting against equality,
and does not have the right to promote democracy or
say they are against discrimination and racism. The
entire world adopts the principle of equality in
their laws, and this is the only country that does
not embrace equality in its laws. This is clear
proof of the state’s nature,” Zahalka stressed.
© The
Middle East Monitor
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