The Israeli Knesset. Photo: Wiki Commons.

JNS.org – The Israeli Ministerial Committee on Legislation approved a bill Sunday to amend Israel’s national education law to include a clause emphasizing teaching the importance of Israel as the Jewish state, Israel Hayom reported.

“There is public agreement that there are attempts to diminish the special connection of the Jewish people to our land. Therefore, education of the younger generation must be intensified,” says the introduction to the amendment, which was initiated by MK Shimon Ohayon (Likud-Beiteinu).

Justice Minister Tzipi Livni (Hatnuah), Finance Minister Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid), and Health Minister Yael German (Yesh Atid) opposed the bill. Its progress is conditional on a legal review to be undertaken by Professor Ruth Gaviszon and on the approval of Education Minister Shai Piron (Yesh Atid), who opposes the current wording.

During the committee discussion, Senior Citizens Minister Uri Orbach (Habayit Hayehudi) said, “For us, it is clear that Israel is the national Jewish state, which the Palestinians will never accept.”