Minister of the Interior, Ofer Paz-Pines (Labor), told newly-elected Yesha municipal officials that the Jewish character of the State of Israel is threatened. After a moment’s hesitation, he added the word “democratic” to his prognosis.
The minister told his audience at a seminar at Kibbutz Hafetz Chaim that he will do his utmost to ensure that Israel stays Jewish and democratic.
When asked about the problem of Arabs illegally seizing control of state lands in the Galilee and the Negev, Paz-Pines said that there has been large-scale immigration of Palestinian Arabs into Israel, as well as non-Jewish immigrants from Russia and other areas. He attributed the immigration to Israel’s strong economy and the desire for people to improve their living conditions.
The minister told his audience at a seminar at Kibbutz Hafetz Chaim that he will do his utmost to ensure that Israel stays Jewish and democratic.
When asked about the problem of Arabs illegally seizing control of state lands in the Galilee and the Negev, Paz-Pines said that there has been large-scale immigration of Palestinian Arabs into Israel, as well as non-Jewish immigrants from Russia and other areas. He attributed the immigration to Israel’s strong economy and the desire for people to improve their living conditions.