Majadle: State must be loyal to Israeli-Arab citizens

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Loyalty can only be expected from citizens if the state returns such loyalty, Science, Culture and Sport Minister Ghaleb Majadle said Tuesday. Speaking at the Herzliya Conference at IDC, Majadle said, "Anyone who wants loyalty from Israeli-Arabs must first ensure that the state is loyal to them, by closing the gaps." The minister was speaking in response to the Israel Beiteinu election campaign which says only those loyal to Israel should be granted citizenship. Majadle added, "I hope we will return to being a moderate society, and that the demagogues don't succeed in bringing us to state of despair." He said that the "vast majority" of Israelis were "sane and pragmatic."