The Jewish National Fund

On 18 July 2007, a racist bill entitled the “Jewish National Fund Law”, submitted by MK Uri Ariel (National Unity/National Religious Party), passed its preliminary reading in the Knesset plenum. The bill stipulates that land in the possession of the Jewish National Fund (JNF) is to be allocated exclusively to Jewish people. The majority of the land under the control of the JNF (13% of the land in Israel) was transferred to it by state and was originally in the ownership of Arab refugees or internally displaced persons. The bill was passed by a large majority of 64-16 MKs, with one abstention. In accordance with the bill, a new provision will be added to the Israel Land Administration Law, 1960, entitled “Management of the Jewish National Fund’s Lands.” Under the additional provision, “Despite whatever is stated in any law, leasing of Jewish National Fund’s lands for the purpose of the settlement of Jews on these lands will not be seen as improper discrimination.” Further, “For the purpose of every law, the association documents of the Jewish National Fund will be interpreted according to the judgment of the Jewish National Fund’s founders and from a nationalist-Zionist standpoint”.