Asad Slams Israel’s New Citizenship Law

Tuesday October 12, 2010 08:41 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

On Monday, Syrian President, Bashar Asad, strongly denounced the new Israeli citizenship law requiring all non-Jews in the country to pledge allegiance to Israel as a “Jewish democratic state”. Asad said this law Is part of a long-standing plan Israel is steadily applying.

Syrian President Bashar Asad - watan.com

The Syrian president added that this new citizenship law is a proof that Israel does not want, and is not seeking, peace with the Palestinians.

The new law was passed in an overwhelming vote on Sunday; under the new legislation Arabs, Palestinians and all non-Jewish minorities will be required to pledge allegiance to Israel as a Jewish state.

During a press conference with Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Asad described the law as “racist and fascist”.

He said that while Israel claims to be the only democracy in the Middle East, “it now became clear and a proven fact that it is a racist country”.

Asad also stated that such a decision made by Israel, does not provide any solid evidence that Israel is interested in the peace making process.

The Middle East Online reported that Erdogan said, “nobody can impose citizenship on anyone,” and he strongly denounced the new law, .

The Arab minority in Israel strongly condemned the new law and consider it a new attempt to block the U.S. mediation in the Peace Process, and an attempt to stop efforts to oblige Israel to halt its settlement activities in the occupied territories, including in occupied East Jerusalem.

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