Israeli-Palestinians add ‘second-class citizen’ passport stamp to Facebook profiles
Artist responds to Israeli bill that would limit ‘national rights’ to Jewish population.
An Israeli-Palestinian graphic designer has come up with a creative protest against a new bill that calls for Israel to limit “national rights” Jewish citizens. Sana Jamalia, who is based in Haifa, replaced her Facebook profile picture with an image stamped with the words “second-class citizen” in Hebrew.
The bill declares Israel to be the “national state of the Jewish people” and requires Jewish law to inspire the Israeli legal system. Critics have argued that it discriminates against Israel’s Palestinian population and will further alienate Arabs from Israeli society. A scheduled vote in the Knesset was delayed on Monday after debate among politicians.
“What’s new here? We were never first–class citizens,” Jamalia told Haaretz newspaper. “At least now you have said it out loud.”
The artist invited others on Facebook to send her their profile pictures so she could add the mock stamp.