Push for nationality law could break up Israeli govt, says minister

Jerusalem: Israel’s justice minister says that if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists on bringing a contentious nationality law to a parliamentary vote, it could mean the end of his government and the holding of early elections. Tzipi Livni’s warning Monday came amid her insistence that she and her moderate partners in Netanyahu’s coalition would not allow the law to pass. [caption id=“attachment_1791901” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. AFP[/caption] Supporters of the law had spoken of holding a vote on Wednesday but law sponsor Zeev Elkin of Netanyahu’s Likud party now says he is considering the possibility of delaying the balloting. Netanyahu says the proposed nationality law would put Israel’s Jewish and democratic characters on equal footing but opponents charge that it discriminates against Israel’s Arab minority and paves the way for Jewish religious law to supplant democratic practices. AP