Heart to Heart Statement on the Nation State Bill

We, the 2018 Heart to Heart delegation, have come together to express our opposition to Israel's recently legislated Nation State Bill. We are Jewish and Palestinian youth, between the ages of 14 and 15 who are all citizens of Israel. We believe in creating a better future by working together towards a shared society. For the past three weeks we have been .

participating in a youth delegation in Canada in order to give hope to the next generation.

After reading and discussing Israel's Nation State Bill we feel angry and upset. We feel that

the law is unfair. Some of us feel disappointed, ashamed, frustrated and scared for the future. We are all opposed to the bill and our different reactions are a reflection of the way in which this bill will affect our communities in different ways.

Our delegation came to Canada to address problems of discrimination and inequality in Israel and we feel that this new law is pointing our society in the opposite direction. We were especially disappointed to hear about the bill's passing because we had been in the midst of writing our own version of a constitution, with a very different emphasis, based on justice and equality and we were feeling hopeful to continue realizing our vision upon our return home from Canada.

We are offended by the fact that this law no longer considers Arabic an official language. Arabic is important to all of us, and to some of us, it is essential. We are concerned that this bill will cancel an important means of expression.

We are also concerned that the bill focuses exclusively on Jewish issues. There is no focus on other identities including Palestinian-Arab identity. We are worried about the future repercussions of not including Palestinian-Arab identity when considering the character of the state, especially when Palestinian citizens of Israel make up more than 20 percent of the population.

Despite this discouraging moment, we will not lose hope and we will not despair. ln light of this bill's passing, we commit to continuing to work together as a group to work towards equality, justice, pluralism and shared society.

- Heart to Heart 2018

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