Israel’s Parliament adopted Jewish nation-state law – Death of Democracy
Israel’s Parliament adopted Jewish nation-state law on Thursday. The country has declared itself as a nation-state of Jewish people. This act has given rise to fears of discrimination against the Arab citizens.
Palestinians and Arab lawmakers have classified the law as racist. They have said that it is equal to the legalisation of apartheid.
The European Union voiced it’s concerns and stated that the rights of minorities should be respected. Moreover, they implied that the country’s democratic nature was being pushed to the background. This is paving the path for Jewish authority.
The law was passed 62 votes against the 55 opposition. It adopted Hebrew as the national language. The establishment of Jewish communities was defined to be in the national interest.
The previous national language, Arabic was given special status.
The opposition denounced the vote. Arab members who called the bill racist ripped out copies of it in the parliament. Ayman Odeh is head of the Joint List Alliance. He called this act “Death of Democracy”.
“This is a law that encourages not only discrimination, but racism as well,” lawmaker Yousef Jabareen said after Israel’s parliament adopted Jewish nation-state law.
More than 8 million people are Arab citizens. This accounts for approximately 17.5% of the population. Their complaints of discrimination might grow more severe. That’s because Israel’s parliament adopted Jewish nation-state law. Saeb Erekat is secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organisation. He called the legislation a “dangerous and racist law”. It “officially legalises apartheid and legally defines Israel as an apartheid system”.
“We believe the basic principles, including when it comes to respect of minorities, needs to be assured and needs to be respected,” said Maja Kocijancic. She is the spokeswoman for EU Foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini. The sponsor of the law was Avi Dichter from Netanyahu’s Likud party. He has said it aims to defend Israel’s “status as a Jewish and democratic state.”
Shuki Friedman is the Israel Democracy Institute think tank. He said much of the law is symbolic. But it would force the courts to consider the country’s Jewish nature and lead to a more “narrow interpretation of Arabs’ rights”. By emphasising Israel’s Jewish nature, it is “reducing, not directly but indirectly, its democratic nature,” Friedman told AFP.
Is this law really killing democracy or it it just symbolic? Does it violate rights of equality?
