Heckler disrupts press conference on nation-state law

Описание: (7 Aug 2018) LEADIN:
An Arab rights group has filed a petition with the Supreme Court against the controversial Jewish state law.
The new legislation defines Israel as the Jewish nation-state which critics say marginalises the Arab population.
STORYLINE:
Mohammad Baraka and other Arab members of the Knesset are about to be interrupted.
Their press conference is disrupted by a heckler.
"You should resign from the Knesset this is really chutzpah. You are a liar," the unidentified man shouts.
His anger is directed at a panel who are here to speak about Israel's controversial Jewish state law - an issue that generates a lot of emotion.
Passed by parliament last month, it defines Israel as the Jewish nation-state and downgrades the Arabic language to a "special status."
Critics say it marginalises the country's Arab minority, while supporters say it ensures the Jewish character of the state for generations to come.
An Arab rights group in Israel has filed a petition with the Supreme Court against the legislation.
Baraka says the petition is of "utmost importance".
"We didn't come to this place from anywhere, we were born here, our grandparents were here," he says.
"Our citizenship isn't conditional upon army service and is not conditional upon our loyalty to Zionism and the government. If this principle is not accepted I think this country will look like an apartheid country."
Today's statement from Adalah, the Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, says the law "has distinct apartheid characteristics" and denies "civil and national rights of Palestinians in their homeland."
Tens of thousands demonstrated against the law in Tel Aviv on Saturday, calling for it to be amended to ensure equality for the country's minorities.
The Knesset is slated to discuss the law at an emergency session in Jerusalem on Wednesday.

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