Tel Aviv
Israel erupted in furious debate this week after the Cabinet approved a bill that would prevent Israeli Arabs from buying homes in towns designated as “Jewish only.” Arab members of parliament called the proposal the beginning of apartheid for Israeli Arabs, who make up nearly 20 percent of the population. “Racism has become an official ideology of the state of Israel,” said Azmi Bishara of the Arab Balad party. The Labor Party said that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s Likud Party had sneaked the bill through “on the sly” when most Labor Cabinet members were away. But the proposed ban will probably not become law, since it must pass three parliamentary votes and Labor has pledged to defeat it.
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