“This is a celebratory and important moment,” declared Tourism Minister Yariv Levin of the Likud Party July 26 at the first debate in preparation for the first reading of the controversial nationality bill. Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked of HaBayit HaYehudi added her own dose of pomposity when she pronounced the proposed law “historic” and proclaimed, “It will remain with us for eternity.” The debate itself, however, held in the spacious Negev Hall of the Knesset, was far from celebratory. It was the last day of the Knesset’s summer session, and emotions were running hot — around the conference table and not far from there at the Temple Mount compound.
The charged debate, which included fierce conflicts between Arab Knesset members and their colleagues on the right, succinctly reflected the violent anti-Israel atmosphere on the Arab street, in the West Bank and Gaza and around the Muslim world since the murder of two Border Police officers on the Temple Mount July 14 and the ensuing installation of metal detectors (since removed) at the entrance to the compound.
