Skip to main content

Palestinians outraged at Jewish nation-state law

Palestinians and Israelis expressed their anger at the Israeli Knesset for passing the Jewish nation-state law that strips the Arab citizens of Israel of their rights.
GettyImages-998754112.jpg

The passage by the Israeli Knesset July 19 of the Jewish nationality law has produced different and even contradictory reactions by Palestinians and Israelis.

The law — passed by a small majority of 62-55, with two abstaining — follows the demand by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. During his 2009 Bar-Ilan University speech, Netanyahu set two conditions for accepting the two-state solution: that Palestine be a demilitarized state and that Palestinians recognize Israel as a Jewish state. The second condition was totally rejected by Palestinian leaders who argued that it is not the place of Palestinians to decide Israel’s nationality, and that such a recognition by Palestinians is tantamount to giving up the Palestinians’ right of return and that it badly infringes on the rights of Palestinian citizens of Israel who are not Jewish.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.