Dubai: The Israeli Knesset passing the nation-state bill consolidates racist practices against Palestinians, tweeted Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
“The bill’s approval undermines the two state solution. There are many worrying developments in Palestine that require more Arab solidarity and cooperation. It is vital Arabs intensify their political efforts in light of these rapid developments as well as mend political division among Palestinians,” he said.
He highlighted the destructiveness of Qatar’s ongoing communication with Israel in regards to developments in Gaza as well as Iran’s bid to interfere in Gaza in order to achieve political gains.
The bill, passed on Thursday, was slammed by critics as anti-democratic, facist and racist.
It stipulates that only Jews have the right to self-determination and makes Hebrew the official language of the state.
Palestinian parliamentarian in the Knesset, Ahmad Tibi, said the bill was the beginning of an apartheid state.
“Its a black day for Palestinians,” he tweeted.
Palestinians believe the legislation could be the first step towards Israel’s complete annexation of the West Bank—Palestinian land that Israel already occupies and builds colonies on.
Meanwhile, Hamas announced its backing for a new Egyptian-led push for reconciliation with the rival Palestinian faction Fatah.
The office of Hamas leader Esmail Haniya said he had spoken with Egypt’s intelligence head Abbas Kamel to inform him of his movement’s backing for a fresh Egyptian-brokered push.
A statement from the movement said the two men discussed the “latest developments in the Palestinian issue and especially the reconciliation file and humanitarian projects for the people of the Gaza Strip.”
Haniya’s deputy Saleh Al Arouri led a delegation to Cairo last week.
So far, secularists Fatah have not officially responded to this fresh push for reconciliation.
A previous Egyptian-brokered deal, signed by Hamas and Fatah in October 2017, collapsed on implementation.
In March, the head of the Fatah-dominated West Bank government survived a roadside bomb hitting his convoy in a rare visit to Gaza, with his allies later accusing Hamas of planning the attack.
It was hoped that reconciliation could alleviate humanitarian suffering in Gaza, home to some two million people.
The United Nations has signalled its support for a fresh reconciliation push, but diplomats have little optimism.
Hamas won 2006 parliamentary elections but Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas’s Fatah and much of the international community refused to accept the result, leading to increased strife.
A year later, Hamas violently seized control of Gaza. Since then two separate Palestinian civil administrations emerged.
-with inputs from AFP
