JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s prime minister said Sunday that the public expects the government to “return to normal conduct” and hinted at the possibility of early elections if his coalition does not overcome a crisis linked to a contentious nationality bill.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s comments were his strongest yet since talk of early elections erupted following discord over legislation that would enshrine Israel’s status as a Jewish state. Netanyahu says such legislation is needed in order to defend Israel’s right to exist, while critics say it would undermine democracy and make the country’s Arab minority second-class citizens.
Two of his most senior coalition partners have vowed to oppose the bill in its current form, even at the expense of toppling the government.
Netanyahu warned against threats to bring down the government, while hinting that he would dissolve it himself if things did not change.
“Hardly a day passes without us running into dictates or threats of resignations or one type of ultimatums or another while ministers are lashing out at the government and the prime minister,” he told a weekly Cabinet meeting.
“I hope we can return to normal conduct. This is what the public expects from us. This is the only way to lead the country, and if not we will have to draw conclusions.”
The comments came a day after Finance Minister Yair Lapid, head of the centrist Yesh Atid party, accused Netanyahu of playing “petty politics” and said he hadn’t spoken to him in a month. The leader of the other centrist party in the coalition, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, has warned that passing the nationality bill could force early elections.
Debate over the bill comes amid soaring tensions between Israeli Jews and Israeli Arabs, who make up about 20 percent of the population of 8 million.
Israel’s declaration of independence in 1948 defined it as both Jewish and democratic. The new legislation seeks to enshrine these principles as a Basic Law, making them part of Israel’s de facto constitution.
The proposal would also make Jewish law a source of legislative inspiration and delist Arabic as an official language.
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