In the vicinity of the Arabic language day that will be celebrated today in the Knesset, MK Michal Waldiger is working to change the Knesset's bylaws regarding speeches in the Arabic language in the plenum, Israel Today has learned.
After watching Walid Taha's speech (RAAM) ahead of the vote on the Electricity Law, which spoke at length on the podium in Arabic and angered many MKs because they did not understand what he was saying in the debate, the religious Zionist MK decided to act and signed more than 20 members Knesset, from right and left, on a letter amending the Knesset Rules of Procedure regarding live translation of speeches that are not in the Hebrew language. The letter was submitted to the Speaker of the Knesset Committee, MK Nir Orbach (right).
In her letter, MK Waldiger recently mentioned MKs going up to the podium and speaking in Arabic, even though most Knesset members, as well as a significant portion of the public, do not speak the language.
There is no impediment to flashing a short sentence in another language, including Arabic.
"Members of the Knesset are denied the opportunity to comment and comment on the content, and as a result no real debate is possible."
Interior Committee Chairman MK Walid Taha. "Your problem is that you did not learn Arabic", Photo: Noam Moskowitz, Knesset Spokeswoman
Accordingly, Waldiger suggests that Knesset members seeking to speak in a language other than Hebrew, beyond a short sentence, should be informed in advance and summoned to the plenum by an interpreter who will translate their remarks in real time.
If they did not arrange this, they would speak in the Hebrew language.
The letter is signed by Waldiger's partners in the faction: Itamar Ben Gvir, Orit Struck and Avi Maoz.
Members of Knesset from various factions are also signed, including Moshe Gafni (Torah Judaism), Shirley Pinto (right), Michal Rosin (Meretz), Gilad Karib (Labor), Yael Ron (blue and white) and Avi Dichter (Likud).
MK Waldiger told Israel Today: "If we want to show that the Basic Law: Nationality is not a lip service, then it must be treated accordingly.
Even if MKs like Walid Taha do not recognize it, Hebrew is the only official language in Israel, and as such speeches in the plenum should be delivered in Hebrew so that all MKs and the public can understand them.
"I am not prepared to accept the absurd, embarrassing and broken reality in which I, as a public representative, was prevented from understanding the laws that are being passed and affect all the citizens of the country."
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