Israel mulls law eliminating Arabic as state language

JERUSALEM

The Knesset (Israel’s parliament) on Wednesday approved a preliminary reading of a controversial bill that would eliminate Arabic as an official state language and which describes Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

The reading was approved with 48 Knesset members voting in favor and 41 voting against in a tumultuous session that saw Arab lawmakers Hanin Zoabi and Jamal Zahalqa both removed from the assembly.

In a statement, the Knesset declared that the legislation would formalize Israel's status as the “national home of the Jewish people”, Jerusalem’s status as Israel’s capital, and Hebrew as its sole official language.

If passed, the law would eliminate Arabic as an official state language in Israel -- a status it has enjoyed since the country’s establishment in 1948.

The bill will now be referred to the Knesset’s legal committee before being subject to a first reading.

Aside from Palestinians in the occupied territories, there are roughly 1.4 million Arab citizens of Israel.