BICOM

Diaspora groups and international leaders have voiced their concerns over aspects of Israel’s new Nation-State Law. After months of political wrangling the law, which enshrines the principle of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people, was passed by members of the Knesset on Wednesday night. It stipulates that “Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people, in which it actualises its natural, religious, and historical right for self-determination,” which is “unique to the Jewish people”.

The contentious piece of legislation has attracted criticism over the apparent downgrading of the Arabic language from its designation as an official language alongside Hebrew to a “special status,” although it is stated in the law that “this clause does not harm the status given to the Arabic language before this law came into effect”. Another controversial clause states that Israel now “views the development of Jewish settlement as a national value and will act to encourage and promote its establishment and consolidation”.

Sheila Gewolb, Senior Vice President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews said that “whilst we celebrate Israel’s Jewish-ness, there is concern that some of the measures in this law are regressive steps”. Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and Carole Nuriel, acting Director of ADL’s Israel Office, said in a statement: “We are troubled by the fact that the law, which celebrates the fundamental Jewish nature of the state, raises significant questions about the government’s long-term commitment to its pluralistic identity and democratic nature.”

Speaking on his reasons for drafting the bill, Israeli MK Avi Dichter (Likud) said: “We live in a reality in which the Palestinian aspiration to elide the Jewish people’s nation-state is no longer concealed. This Bill will fortify Israel’s status and its values as Jewish and democratic against all those who try to undermine it.”

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas yesterday called on “the international community to intervene and undertake its responsibilities in stopping these racist laws by way of pressuring Israel and compelling it to implement resolutions of international legitimacy”.

A spokeswoman for Federica Mogherini, the EU foreign affairs chief, said: “We are concerned, we have expressed this concern and we will continue to engage with Israeli authorities in this context.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the passage of the Bill and called it a “defining moment” in Israel’s history. He said in a statement: “We engraved in the stone of law our language, our anthem, and our flag. We have enshrined the fact that Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people.”

The Turkish Foreign Ministry released a statement yesterday condemning the law, and calling its description of the exclusive Jewish right to self-determination “antiquated” and “discriminatory”. Writing in Yediot Ahronot, Sima Kadmon says that the Basic Law primarily passed because of internal right-wing politics in Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu wanted it to pass to aid his chances of retaining office if he calls for elections later this year. The new law confirms the right to self-determination in their homeland as a unique right for the Jewish people. It anchors the symbols of the state – which include the flag, the national anthem and the Hebrew calendar – makes Jerusalem the capital of Israel, and Hebrew Israel’s official language. It also notes that Jewish people’s heritage and the affiliation between Israel and the Jewish people in the diaspora must be preserved by the State. Formally known as ‘The Basic Law: Israel as the Nation State of the Jewish People’ the new law was approved in the Knesset by 62-55 votes, with two abstentions.