Controversial laws support one section of the society and are against the other. These are those laws which are not so popular. One part of society enjoys such law’s benefits. Controversial laws can become a source of tension, and it can cause conflict in society. Israel also has a good list of such laws. Have you ever heard about one or come across it while visiting Israel?
Ten controversial laws of Israel are here, but remember to share your experience in the comments:
1) Nation-State Law
Israel passed a controversial law called the “nation-state law .”According to this law, the right to exercise national self-determination in Israel is rarely applicable to the Jewish people. Hebrew is Israel’s official language for everyone who knows. Arabic also holds a special ranking here. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the man behind its support, made it compulsory for the state to promote and encourage the establishment and development. Every time, some people are against some law, and this time, Israel Arabs were against this law.
2) Israeli Settlement
Israeli settlements are civilian communities where citizens of Israel live. These settlements developed on that particular land occupied by Israel in the Six-Day War in the year 1967. These settlements are illegal if we consider international law, but sadly, Israel does not accept this. Israeli settlement is a non-government Organization. The Israeli government funds it and leases lands from the Civil Administration. It functions to settle in the West Bank.
3) The Israel Anti-Boycott Act
The Anti-Boycott Act came into existence to permit U.S. states to pass laws. The contractors, here, will sign deeds promising not to boycott any goods from Israel. They can cancel contractors’ contracts if they boycott any goods from Israel.
4) Family Unification Law
This law started on 31st July 2003, stating the West Bank and Gaza Strip inhabitants are not eligible for Israeli citizenship, even after marrying an Israeli citizen. Those who favor it say it prevents terrorist attacks. According to the Israeli Supreme Court, this decision started to avoid the immigration of enemy nationals.
5) The Exemption’s Origins:1948-1998
In 1948, during the Israel War of Independence, Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion made a deal with leaders of the Haredi community. The law indicates the Haredi male students enrolled in the yeshiva for religious studies were exempted from military service. Jewish women are not a part of military service on the grounds of pregnancy, marriage, motherhood, and religious commitments. Individuals who are mentally and medically unfit are not on the compulsory list of military service.
6) Banning Arab Students From Political Activities
The Israeli Ministerial Committee has approved a draft bill for legislation. The goal of this bill is to ban the political activity of Arab students in Israeli universities. This ban started with the aim of preventing supporting terrorist organizations. The law demanded the closure of the student cell. The student cell was closed. They assumed that they supported the terrorist activity and terrorist organizations.
7) Infiltration Law
According to this law, a person is convicted of a life sentence if he commits a crime or offense which will harm property. If there is any disruption of peace by an individual, he gets a life sentence. The infiltrator shall be punished for five years or will pay a fine of upto five thousand lires. If an individual leaves Israel illegally, he must pay a fine of four thousand lires or a strict punishment for four years. A person who will give protection to the infiltrator or protect him in other ways shall be punished for fifteen years or will pay a fine of upto fifteen thousand lires. The individual might get both punishments. A person doing business with the infiltrator will have to pay a fine of fifteen thousand lires or strict punishment for fifteen years.
8) Jewish National Fund Law
This fund is part of a United Nations NGO that provides all Jews with a rare voice in making a prosperous future for the people of Israel. In 1901, it started as a dream to establish a homeland for the Jewish people in Israel. It started specifically for the Jewish people to collect funds for purchasing land for them with tax relief. In 1901, the fifth Zionist Congress started the Jewish National Fund for the Development of Palestinians. According to JNF, only Jews can buy, mortgage, and lease JNF lands.
9) Administrative Detentions
Administrative detention is a method where the Israeli military is allowed to hold prisoners indefinitely without a trial. Administrative detention was to detain Palestinians from the occupied Palestinian territory. There are three separate laws that Israel followed to hold individuals without trial. The three laws were the Emergency Powers, the Internment of Unlawful Combatants Law, and Article 285 of Military Order 1651.
10) Knesset Disqualification law
The Arab member of Parliament submitted this legislation. They demanded that the Israeli government treat the Arabs and Jewish citizens equally. Israel’s Knesset disqualified this bill as it calls for equal and same treatment for all citizens. An Arab faction and members of the joint List sponsored this bill.
Wrapping up
Is there any last law that surprised you? Which other countries do you want me to write about? Life always comes with wanted and unwanted surprises! These laws are one of them.
