The Knesset, on Wednesday, passed the first reading of legislation proposed by MK Zevulun Orlev (National Religious Party) and David Rotem (Yisrael Beiteinu). The legislation calls for an amendment to the declaration of loyalty presently taken by all members of Knesset, whereby all members of Knesset would be obligated to declare loyalty to Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.

MK Zahavah Gal-On, of the left-wing Meretz party, said at the conclusion of the vote, “The Knesset has not heard such fascist proposals of legislation in quite some time. I know of no other way to describe it, other than to call it fascist.”

In order for legislation to be adopted into Israeli law, it must pass through three readings in the Knesset.