Jerusalem, Jul 31, 2018 / 16:06 pm
A recently-adopted Israeli law that strongly affirmed the country's link with the Jewish people and avoided mention of non-Jews wrongly excluded the non-Jewish population, the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem has said.
"It is beyond conception that a law with constitutional effect ignores an entire segment of the population, as if its members never existed," the Latin patriarchate said July 30. "The law might not have practical effects, yet it sends an unequivocal signal to the Palestinian citizens of Israel, to the effect that in this country they are not at home."
"The Christian citizens of Israel have the same concerns as any other non-Jewish communities with respect to this law," the patriarchate continued. "They call upon all citizens of the State of Israel who still believe in the basic concept of equality among citizens of the same nation, to voice their objection to this law and the dangers emanating thereof to the future of this Country."
The Nation State Law's provisions, which have the weight of a constitutional amendment, define Israel as the "historic homeland of the Jewish people" who have "a singular right to national self-determination within it."