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.
