Controversial “Jewish State Law” Confirmed by Israeli Court | Israeli-Palestinian conflict News

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Critics say the law further degrades the status of Israel’s Palestinian minority, which represents 21 percent of its population.

A controversial law that defines Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people was upheld by the Supreme Court, which rejected claims by opponents that it discriminates against minorities.

In its ruling on Thursday, the court acknowledged the shortcomings of so-called nation-state law. But he said he “did not deny the democratic character of Israel” described in other laws.

Supporters of the 2018 law claimed that the legislation only enshrined Israel’s existing Jewish character.

Critics said it further degraded the status of Israel’s Palestinian minority, which makes up about 20 percent of the country’s population.

Adalah, a Palestinian rights group that tried to overturn the law, said the court upheld a law that “completely excludes those who do not belong to the majority group.” He said he “would continue to work internationally to expose the discriminatory and racist nature of this law.”

Palestinian citizens of Israel have the right to vote and are well represented in many professions, but nonetheless suffer from widespread discrimination in areas such as housing and the labor market.

The law was approved by the Knesset, or parliament, in July 2018. It defines Israel as the “nation state” of the Jewish people and adds that “the realization of the right to national self-determination in the state of Israel is unique to the Jewish people. “

He also demoted Arabic from an official state language to a “special status” language.

The law’s passage met with stiff opposition from the country’s Palestinian minority, especially among Druze Israelis, who serve in the military.

A number of Palestinian rights groups and civil society organizations have appealed to the court to repeal the law. A panel of 11 judges, the largest configuration of the tribunal, reviewed the case.

In its 10-1 decision, the court declared that “equal rights are accorded to all citizens of the state, including minority groups”.

He said the right to national self-determination “does not negate recognized personal or cultural rights”.

The judges also said the law did not undermine the status of the Arabic language or prevent “the promotion of its status”.

The court’s only Palestinian judge, George Karra, was the only dissenter who called the law discriminatory.

‘Essence’ of Israel

Justice Minister Gideon Saar, leader of the nationalist New Hope party, welcomed Thursday’s decision.

He said the law “anchors the essence and character of Israel as a nation-state of the Jewish people” and “does not infringe the individual rights of any of the citizens of Israel.”

Legal expert Yuval Shany, vice president of the Israel Democracy Institute, an independent think tank, said the law is largely symbolic and provides a constitutional “backdrop” for judges to consider when evaluate other business.

But he said the ruling made it clear that other laws, on issues such as equality and minority rights, should also be considered.

“Essentially, the court is saying that you will have to explore these issues on a case-by-case basis when future legislation comes before us,” he said.



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