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Israel

'Nakba Law prevents free expression'

March 24, 2011 12:45
MK Horowitz attacked the new law

By

Anshel Pfeffer,

Anshel Pfeffer

1 min read

On Tuesday the Knesset passed two laws: one to protect Israel's Zionist history, and another allowing small towns to prevent certain families from becoming residents.

Both laws have been attacked by left-wing parties and human rights groups as being targeted at Israel's Arab minority.

The "Nakba Law" allows the government to deduct funds from organisations that question the "Jewish or democratic" nature of the state of Israel.

The law as originally proposed by MK Alex Miller, of Yisrael Beiteinu, prohibited the commemoration of the Palestinian "Nakba", the displacement in the 1948 War of Independence. But it was toned down only to prohibit government-funded bodies from "questioning the state's fundamental beliefs".

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