The parliament in Israel on Thursday passed a new law defining the unrecognized country as the nation-state of the Jewish people. The adoption of the new law has provoked fears that it could result in blatant discrimination against citizens belonging to the Arab race.

The lawmakers of Arab descent and Palestinians termed the new legislation as “racist” and said it allows “apartheid”. The law was passed after a tumultuous debate in parliament.

According to others, the law does not recognize equality and Israel’s democratic character with the clear implication that the country is based on Jewish nature and principals.

The European Union voiced concern over the move and called for maintaining the rights of minorities.

The legislation declares Hebrew as the country’s national language and terms the making of Jewish communities as a move in the national interest. The law was adopted by 62 votes to 55.

The Arabic language was removed as an official language and was granted only special status.

The law was passed in the early hours of Thursday and calls Israel as the historic homeland of the Jewish community and also says that they have a “unique” right to self-determination there, according to its final text.

The passed law takes place among the country’s basic laws serving as part of the de facto constitution.

“It is our state, the Jewish state, but in recent years some have tried to question that as well as the principles of our existence and our rights,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after the vote on the legislation, backed by his right-wing government.

According to him, the approval was a “decisive moment” in Israeli history.

Many of the politicians from the opposition denounced the vote. The chief of the Joint List alliance, Ayman Odeh, called the legislation “the death of our democracy”. The opposition party is mainly Arab.

“This is a law that encourages not only discrimination but racism as well,” lawmaker Yousef Jabareen said.

A total of 17.5 percent of Israel’s more than eight million population are Arab. They have always been complaining of discrimination.

Saeb Erekat, secretary-general of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, called the legislation a “dangerous and racist law” that “officially legalizes apartheid and legally defines Israel as an apartheid system”.

Turkey called the legislation as a “racist” attempt to create “an apartheid state” discriminating against Israeli Arabs.

A European Union official said they were “concerned” with the new legislation and were engaged with Israeli officials over the issue.

“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, spokeswoman for EU Foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.

According to the sponsor of the law, Avi Dichter, a candidate from Netanyahu’s Likud party, has asserted that it aims to defend Israel’s “status as a Jewish and democratic state.”

By emphasizing Israel’s Jewish nature, it is “reducing, not directly but indirectly, its democratic nature,” Friedman told AFP.

Many times, various versions of the law have been under debate for many years.

But some Israelis on Thursday seemed to be split over the law.

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