Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has failed to extend the validity of the sensitive citizenship law for another year. This concerns legislation that prevents Palestinians from the Gaza Strip or the West Bank from obtaining Israeli nationality or a residence permit if they marry an Israeli. This is seen as the first major defeat for the new government in parliament.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett pushed for an extension, but did not get a majority in the Knesset: 59 parliamentarians voted in favor, 59 against. Two MPs abstained from voting.
The legislation was introduced in 2003 in response to the Second Intifada, the Palestinian uprising after a visit by then-opposition leader Ariel Sharon to the Temple Mount in East Jerusalem. Since then, the parliament has annually supported the extension of the law.
According to critics, this is not for security in Israel, but to maintain a Jewish majority in Israel. Opponents therefore find the law discriminatory against the Arab part of the population in Israel.
–
