[cross-posted to Tikun Olam]

An Israeli and two American-Jewish bloggers (one of them yours truly) created an online petition to be sent to the Israeli Knesset protesting approval, on first reading, of the Jewish National Fund bill which prevents Arab citizens from leasing land owned by the Jewish National Fund. The JNF is a quasi-private charity established to raise funds to support Jewish settlement in Israel. It also administers 13% of all Israel's land.

Several years ago, the Israeli Supreme Court ruled that the JNF could no longer discriminate against Arabs since such a practice violated the norms of a modern democracy. The Knesset vote is an attempt to end-around the ruling.

This is the petition text:

We the undersigned express our profound disapproval and sorrow at the Israeli Knesset's recent passage, on first reading, of the Jewish National Fund bill. The bill would prohibit Israel's Arab citizens from leasing land owned by the Jewish National Fund (JNF) and managed by the Israeli Land Authority (which administers 93% of Israel's land). The Israel High Court had earlier ruled that the ILA cannot discriminate against Arabs in leasing such land. This new legislation is an attempt to circumvent that ruling.

We applaud the High Court for putting an end to a discriminatory practice that should never have existed within a democratic state. We also applaud the Israeli MK's, Jewish and Arab that voted against the amendment. If Israel is to be truly democratic, all its citizens must have the right to lease land held in trust by the government of Israel. Israel must not settle for anything less.

We call upon to the Knesset to defeat the amendment when it comes up for its next reading and to embrace values of equality and tolerance for all its citizens.

If you agree with these sentiments I hope you'll consider signing the petition.