Palestinians accuse the Israeli parliament of instituting apartheid – World

A controversial law, which generated several hours of debate in the Knesset (Israeli parliament), and eventually passed. The law passed by 62 votes for and 55 against (with two abstentions) states that "Israel is the historical homeland of the Jewish people" and that the country will become a democratic Jewish state.

Saeb Erekat, Palestinian negotiator, criticizes "The law of the nation-state of the Jews formally legalizes apartheid and legally defines Israel as an apartheid system [19659003ItisadangerousandracistmeasureparexcellencedenyingArabcitizenstheirrighttoself-determinationtobedeterminedbytheJewishpopulation"

The new law also states that Jerusalem is the capital from Israel, that Hebrew is the official language and that the Hebrew calendar becomes official for the state. The Arabic language goes from official to "special", being specified that it does not prejudge the status that had the Arabic language before adopting the new measure.

Hamas also criticized the decision of the Israeli parliament. Fawzi Barhoum, a spokesman for the group, said it legalized "Israeli racism" and constituted a "dangerous attack on Palestinians and the historic right to have their territory".

"These extremist laws would not be approved unless or by the silence of regional and international bodies on crimes and violations of the occupation.All these laws and resolutions have no basis and come not change anything on the ground. "Despite Palestinian criticism, the Israeli government has welcomed the approval of the new law, Benjamin Netanyahu stating that it is" a turning point in the annals of Zionism and Hanan Ashrawi, member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, believes that the law violates international law.

"The Law of the Nation-State of the Jewish People apartheid ] discrimination, ethnic cleansing and sectarianism at the expense of the Palestinian people. Such a racist law is illegal in the light of norms of international law, democracy, humanity, justice, tolerance and inclusion. "