Israel passes contentious law proclaiming ‘Jewish nation-state’ as critics claim it marginalises Arab citizens
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the legislation’s passage a ‘historic moment in the history of Zionism and the history of the state of Israel’
Israel’s parliament approved a controversial piece of legislation on Thursday that defines the country as the nation-state of the Jewish people but, critics warn, sidelines minorities.
The government says the bill, passed in the early morning hours, will merely enshrine into law Israel’s existing character.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the legislation’s passage a “historic moment in the history of Zionism and the history of the state of Israel”.
“Israel is the nation state of the Jewish people, which honours the individual rights of all its citizens,” the prime minister said. “I repeat this is our state. The Jewish state.
“Lately, there are people who are trying to destabilise this and therefore destabilise the foundations of our existence and our rights,” he added. “So today we have made a law in stone. This is our country. This is our language. This is our anthem and this is our flag. Long live the state of Israel.”
This is our country. This is our language. This is our anthem and this is our flag. Long live the state of Israel
But opponents to the law say it marginalises the country’s Arab minority. One clause downgrades the Arabic language from official to “special” standing. Around 20 per cent of Israel’s population is Arab.
