Identity and isolation in Israel

Avigdor Lieberman, the Israeli foreign minister, and his Yisrael Beitenu party are no strangers to controversy.

But their latest push, which would see Arabs who live in Israel and want to obtain citizenship pledging allegiance to a Jewish state, is raising eyebrows both in and outside Israel.

Lieberman has put two bills forward for debate in the Knesset this weekend. On top of demanding an oath of allegiance, one of the bills says citizenship can be revoked if the individual does not serve in the Israeli armed forces or complete a term of national service.

Both bills are being labelled as “fascist” by some human rights groups.

So, is this a quest for identity or the isolation of a people?

Inside Story presenter Kamahl Santamaria is joined by Paul Eidelberg, an author and president of the Foundation for Constitutional Democracy, Mohammad Darawshe, the co-executive director of the Abraham Fund Initiatives, and Clare Short, an independent member of the British parliament.

This episode of Inside Story aired on Tuesday, May 26, 2009.