In Jerusalem, Proposed Bill Would Replace Arabic Place Names With Hebrew
No doubt you’ve heard about the ongoing protests in Sheikh Jarrah and the famous hummus of Abu Gosh. Soon, mentioning these place names on Israeli state television and radio could become illegal.
The right-wing firebrand Tzipi Hotovely, the youngest lawmaker in Knesset, has initiated a bill that would rename these Jerusalem districts with Hebrew appellations. In areas for which a Hebrew name already exists, this would be used instead.
In short, Hotovely wants Arabic names of Jerusalem locales where any Jews live — even a tiny minority — Hebraized. She sees the move as strengthening the bond of Jews to Jerusalem, Ynet reports. “The purpose is to strengthen the bond to Jerusalem by enforcing the use of Hebrew names for the capital’s neighborhoods where Jews reside,” she said.
Of course, the flip side is that the Arab attachment to these places will be whitewashed out of the official geography of the city — and in turn reduced in public perception, as the bill requires that state radio and television only use the Hebrew names.
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover. All donations are being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
