Israel Officially Recognizes Israeli Sign Language

The Knesset has granted official recognition to Israeli Sign Language after approving the bill yesterday (Monday) in its second and third readings. The bill, which addresses the status of the language and its advancement, was sponsored by MKs Avichai Boaron and Chili Tropper. It passed with the support of six Knesset members, with no opposition and no abstentions.

The new law anchors, for the first time in legislation, the status of Israeli Sign Language and recognizes it on behalf of the state. Under the law, Minister of Culture and Sports Miki Zohar will be responsible for its implementation and execution. The Academy of the Hebrew Language was officially authorized to work to preserve, develop, and promote the language.

The explanatory notes to the bill emphasized the importance of Israeli Sign Language for Israel’s deaf and hard-of-hearing community, not only as a central communication tool but also as part of the cultural and social identity of community members: "Israeli Sign Language serves as the primary language and as a means of creating communication and conveying messages among deaf and hard-of-hearing people in Israel who use it. In addition, Israeli Sign Language plays a role in the identity, culture, and pride of members of the deaf community in Israel. The purpose of the proposed law is to recognize Israeli Sign Language as the natural language of the deaf in Israel."

The bill’s approval in the plenum came with broad agreement and no opposition, prompting a special response from one of its sponsors, MK Chili Tropper. After the legislative process was completed, Tropper said: "We reached this moment thanks to the ability to cooperate between the opposition and the coalition. These are difficult days for the people of Israel, but there are moments of grace, and this is one of those moments."

Former MK Shirley Pinto, who had previously worked to advance the issue, also welcomed the completion of the legislation and stressed its significance for Israel’s deaf community. Pinto called the bill’s approval a "historic day for the State of Israel" and said that the official recognition of sign language is a victory for the values of justice, equality, and accessibility.

In her remarks, Pinto thanked the bill’s sponsors and social activist Boaz Echad Ha’am for their contribution to advancing the move, adding: "It’s time for every citizen to feel that they belong and have access in Israeli society."