Assad says 'racist' oath proves Israel doesn't want peace
AFP
DAMASCUS- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Monday slammed an Israeli citizenship law that he said was proof the Jewish state does not want to make peace with the Palestinians.
Israel's mainly right wing government voted overwhelmingly on Sunday in favour of the controversial legislation requiring non-Jewish new citizens to swear allegiance to the country as a Jewish state.
"This is a fascist and racist act which should not surprise us and is part of a long-standing plan that Israelis are gradually applying," Assad said at a joint news conference with visiting Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
"It is now proven that Israel, which stands as the only democratic country in the middle of the Arab and Muslim world, is a racist country," he added.
"Such decisions do not provide any solid evidence on the part of Israel for the peace process. The Arab side wants peace but the Israeli side is the opposite."
Erdogan also denounced the Israeli law, saying: "Nobody can impose citizenship on anyone, especially in this way."
The Israeli law has been widely condemned as racist by Israel's Arab minority but appeared designed to placate hardline ministers ahead of a decision to extend settlement curbs seen as key to US-backed peace efforts.
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"It is now proven that Israel, which stands as the only democratic country in the middle of the Arab and Muslim world, is a racist country," he added.
"Such decisions do not provide any solid evidence on the part of Israel for the peace process. The Arab side wants peace but the Israeli side is the opposite."
Erdogan also denounced the Israeli law, saying: "Nobody can impose citizenship on anyone, especially in this way."
The Israeli law has been widely condemned as racist by Israel's Arab minority but appeared designed to placate hardline ministers ahead of a decision to extend settlement curbs seen as key to US-backed peace efforts.
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