Defense Minister Benny Gantz on Thursday called on Opposition Leader Benjamin Netanyahu to put partisan considerations to the side and support the efforts of the new government to extend a law barring Palestinians who marry Israeli citizens from receiving citizenship.
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The law could not be extended on Wednesday after the Likud and Religious Zionist Party, in favor of extending the law in principle, announced that they would not support it.
"This law is essential for safeguarding the country's security and Jewish and democratic character, and considerations of security must be put above all political considerations," Gantz said in a statement. "Even in times of political division, we must put Israel before everything."
The new government counted on the support of the opposition, because the Islamist party Ra'am, which is opposed to extending the law, indicated that it would not vote with its partners.
Netanyahu's Likud, ousted from power after 12 consecutive years earlier this week, seized on this in a combative retort to Gantz, posted to the party's social media accounts.
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"Those purporting to hold up Israeli security as the highest value would never establish a government with Ra'am," a message on Likud's Twitter account read. "Those who purport to cherish Israeli security would leave this government immediately."
Family reunification in Israel usually involves an Israeli citizen applying for citizenship for their non-Israeli spouse, but an exception in the law implemented in 2002 stipulates that it does not apply to Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza.
This article was first published by i24NEWS.
