Racist-Zionist-Israeli Parliament Approves a Bill Proposing Barring Renting or Leasing State Lands to Arab Citizens 

Knesset approved a bill proposing barring renting or leasing “state lands” to Arabs

Thursday July 19, 2007 01:03 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies saed at imemc dot org

The Israeli parliament (called Knesset in Hebrew) approved on Wednesday a new bill proposing barring any renting or leasing of “state lands” to Arab citizens in Israel. The law states that state lands cannot be leased to “non-Jews”, the Arabs48 news website reported.

The lands, considered state lands, originally belong to the Palestinians who were expelled from their lands and homes when Israel captured the first part of Palestine in 1948. The lands are run by the so called Department of the Lands of Israel, and the National Israeli Fund.

The initial voting on the law was approved by 64 members of Knesset, and was opposed by 14. The bill was presented by Uri Ariel, head of the Mifdal – National Union Party.

Arab member of Knesset, Wasel Taha, said that this “proves that the Israeli parliament is crazy since it approved such a bill which is racist and legitimizes the biggest land theft”.

He added that these lands belong to Palestinian residents who were forced out and became refugees in nearby Arab countries and are living under miserable conditions since 60 years.

“This racist law legitimizes theft, which also deprives that Arab Palestinians, living in Israel from this land”, Taha added.

It is worth mentioning that Arab members of Knesset, who are members of Israeli parties such as the Likud and Kadima did not attend the session and did not even attempt to pressure their parties in order to oppose this bill, the Arabs48 news website reported.

Several Arab residents repeatedly tried to rent state lands but their requests were rejected, and they filed appeals to the High Court of Justice. This law will void any future chances for the Arab residents in renting these lands.

The presented bill states that “State lands must always be in Jewish hands”, which is another example or racism practiced by Israel against the non-Jewish residents, especially the Arabs who are the natives of this land.

Moreover, the new bill comes as Israel is ongoing with its destruction of “non-recognized” Arab villages in the Negev. Although village councils repeatedly appealed to the Israeli authorities to recognize their village, Israel always rejected these request and outlawed these villages which gave the Israeli authorities a bigger chances to continue the ongoing destruction of the Arab houses there.

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