Israeli minister promises to pass 'allegiance' to Israel law

Israel's energy and infrastructure minister, Eli Cohen, announced plans to introduce legislation requiring all members of the Israeli parliament to pledge allegiance to Israel as a "Jewish and democratic state." The proposed law specifically targets Palestinian members of the Knesset, such as Ahmad Tibi and Ayman Odeh, who Cohen stated would have no place in the parliament if they oppose this definition. This development follows previous actions against these politicians for their pro-Palestinian stances, including comments about the war on Gaza and criticism of Israeli police actions. The measure is presented in the context of a report by the legal centre Adalah, which states Israel has passed over 30 laws since October 2023 that deepen repression against Palestinians.