Israel Lawmakers Push Hebrew-Only Bill

Right wing lawmaker Orit Strock is pushing to make Hebrew the sole official language of Israel. Image by getty images
A group of right-wing Israeli lawmakers are proposing a bill to make Hebrew the sole official language of the state of Israel.
The bill, which has the support of Knesset members from the Likud, Yisrael Beiteinu, and Jewish Home parties, would break from current law, which mandates that Arabic as well as Hebrew must be used in a wide variety of official functions, including in the court system, government ministries, and official government forms and announcements, Haaretz reported.
That law dates back to the period of the British Mandate.
Under the proposed bill, highway signs would still have to include Arabic.
The bill was proposed by lawmaker Shimon Ohayon of the Yisrael Beiteinu Party and has the support of David Rotem and Hamad Amar from the same party, as well as Moshe Feiglin of the Likud Party and Orit Strock of the Jewish Home Party.
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
