Israel’s Bedouin sidelined as Netanyahu makes deal with Druze
The Bedouin community is bitter over the offer outlined by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to assuage the Druze community's concerns about the controversial new Nationality Law.
The Israeli Druze community strongly objects to the new Nationality Law, codifying the Jewish character of the State of Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has refused to amend the law, proposing instead a series of benefits for the Druze through legislation. Netanyahu in recent days held several meetings with Druze leaders to try to resolve the crisis.
Former Knesset member Shakib Shanan, who sits on the committee established by Netanyahu to deal with the issue, was visibly excited when he left the Prime Minister’s Office Aug. 1. Shanan reported that the Druze parliamentarians in the coalition had accepted, in principle, the compromise outline presented by Netanyahu. Talking to Al-Monitor afterward, Shanan said, “We have reached a historic achievement that regularizes the special status of the Druze community.”
According to Shanan, the outline includes the legal anchoring of the status of the Druze and Circassian communities, acknowledging their contributions in strengthening Israel’s security and shaping Israel as an egalitarian society. The outline will also reportedly include support for the Druze community’s institutions in the spheres of religion, education and culture. Similarly, it offers strengthening Druze areas, including residential construction, establishment of new localities when needed and preservation of the Druze legacy and heritage.
The outline also includes enacting laws that protect the rights to benefits of all minority religious groups and communities who serve in Israel’s armed forces, thus preserving social equality for them, and anchors recognition of their contribution in defending the state.
