The only Arab member of Israel’s Cabinet said he refuses to sing the national anthem. Galeb Majadle said Sunday that he feels alienated by the Zionist sentiment of “Hatikvah,” which includes a line about the “Jewish soul” yearning for Jerusalem.
“The anthem was written for Zionist Jews,” Majadle told Israel Radio. “I am neither Zionist nor a Jew. I am a proud Arab and Muslim.”
But he said that he does allow Israel’s flag to be hung on the wall of his office, albeit alongside a plaque with Koranic verses. Majadle’s statement came amid mounting tensions between the Jewish majority and Arab minority in Israel over demands by representatives of the latter for the country’s Zionist framework to be abandoned.
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