Cabinet Communique
(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Advisor)

At the weekly Cabinet meeting today (Sunday, 29 November 2015):



1. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made the following remarks:

"Today is the 29th of November. Sixty-eight years ago today, on the 29th of
November, the UN decided to recognize a Jewish state in the Land of Israel,
a decision that advanced the establishment of the State of Israel. The next
day, Jewish communities were under increasingly murderous attacks. As it was
then, so it is today; we continue to fight terrorism. This terrorism has
been with us for almost 100 years and we have defeated it time and again; we
will defeat it this time as well.

What drives this terrorism is opposition to the existence of the State of
Israel as the national state of the Jewish People within any borders.
Joining this opposition is radical Islam, which is currently striking around
the world: In Paris, London, Madrid, Mali – of course there are no
settlements or territories, but there are here, and there as well there is
basic opposition to the very existence of these entities, of free,
independent and democratic societies.

We stand on our right to live in a Jewish and democratic state: A Jewish
state as the national state of our people, a democratic state, a state that
respects all of its citizens regardless of religion, race or sex.

I have recently heard voices from public groups in the country against our
decision to outlaw the Northern Branch of the Islamic Movement. This will
not change our decision one millimeter. We stand by this decision just as we
stand by passing the nationality law that will clearly set out Israel's
being a Jewish and democratic state, the national state of the Jewish
People. Within this framework, the discussions that we promised to hold will
start this week led by coalition chairman MK Tzachi Hanegbi. We are starting
to advance the legislation of the Nationality Law.

Tomorrow I am leaving to attend an international conference in Paris. I will
meet there with Russian President Putin and French President Hollande as
well as the leaders of Japan, Canada, Australia and Poland among others. The
Greek Prime minister was here last week and we decided on a series of areas
in which to cooperate. This will continue at our meeting with the President
of Cyprus next month. This week the Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam will
arrive to discuss expanding bilateral cooperation. There are many problems
in the international arena. One of our problems is the schedule; there is
simply a scheduling problem. Whoever spoke about the collapse of our
relations with the US, with the world in general and with the Arab world in
particular, is mistaken.

I would like to commend the work of the Foreign Ministry and of Foreign
Ministry Director General Dore Gold, on the opening of an office in Abu
Dhabi. This reflects the fact that Israel is appreciated in many fields
including technology, and other fields, both within the Middle East and
beyond."

2. The Cabinet decided to change the name of the Economy Ministry to the
Economy and Industry Ministry. Similarly, the Economy Minister will be known
as the Economy and Industry Ministry.

3. The Cabinet approved draft amendments to the municipal ordinance.

4. The Cabinet approved draft amendments to the traffic code.

5. Pursuant to its 29 May 2011 decision on the Merom plan for the
development of Jerusalem and in accordance with Article 4 of Basic Law:
Jerusalem – Capital of Israel, the Cabinet decided that the government would
oversee the development and prosperity of Jerusalem and the welfare of its
residents by investing special resources and giving the city special
preferences vis-à-vis actions by state agencies in developing its economy
and moving forward in other fields. The foregoing is in keeping with the
government's policy of strengthening Jerusalem as Israel's capital and its
economic development, and is in continuation of the government's various
programs in Jerusalem, including those that recognize the importance of
small- and medium-sized businesses to its fabric of life and its economic
development.

6. Social Equality Minister Gila Gamliel briefed ministers on the issue of
the departure and expulsion of Jews from Arab countries and from Iran, on
the occasion of the special day marking the issue, which occurs on the 18th
of the Hebrew month of Kislev, corresponding to tomorrow (Monday, 30
November 2015).

Prime Minister Netanyahu directed that instruction in the education system
on the heritage of Jews from Arab countries and Iran be expanded, and that
consideration be given to Minister Gamliel's proposal to establish a Prime
Minister's Prize for academic research into the issue.