MK Uri Ariel (NU/NRP)
The Knesset plenum passed a law, in a preliminary reading, that determines that Jewish National Fund (JNF) land can only be allocated to Jews. 64 Members of Knesset voted in favor of the law, 16 opposed it and one abstained.
The law was proposed by MKs Uri Ariel (National Union / NRP), Ze'ev Elkin (Kadima) and Moshe Cachlon (Likud). According to Elkin, "the law is intended to do historical justice and prevent crude judicial intervention by the Supreme Court, which tries to violate the basic covenant between the state and the JNF." The JNF holds 13% of Israel's land, comprising about 2.6 million dunams. Its budget is made up of donations from Jews living abroad.
While right wing MKs rejoiced over the law's passing, their Arab colleagues were fuming. MK Ahmed Tibi (Ra'am-Ta'al), a former adviser to Yasser Arafat, called it "institutionalized Jewish racism" while MK Jamal Zahalka of the Balad faction said the Knesset was "racing toward apartheid."