Progressive Jewish Alliance is deeply disappointed by the Israeli cabinet's decision this Sunday to support a bill that would enable state land to be apportioned for Jewish use only. This ill-advised and anti-democratic bill would, essentially, overturn an enlightened 2000 landmark decision by the Israeli High Court holding that Israeli Arabs have the right to live in communities located on state land.

The High Court's decision reinforced the highest ideals of Zionism, enshrined in Israel's Declaration of Independence, which extend full social and political equality to all Israeli citizens without distinction of religion, race or sex. The cabinet's decision flies in the face of these founding principles. It threatens the very character of the Jewish democracy that so many of us hold so dear. Israel cannot be a "light unto the nations" if it discriminates so blatantly against its own citizens. We stand with the Israeli Peace Coalition in opposing the cabinet's profoundly "un–Jewish" decision, and call upon the Knesset and all Israelis of conscience to stop this bill from becoming law.