Basic Law: Israel as the Nation-State of the Jewish People

Basic Law proposal: Israel as the Nation-State of the Jewish People ( ) is an Israeli bill which seeks to determine the nature of the state of Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people . The bill was submitted by MK Avi Dichter of the Kadima party and received the support of 39 other Knesset members, from both the coalition and the opposition. The bill has not passed a preliminary reading.

Basic Law: Israel as the Nation-State of the Jewish People ( ), informally known as the Nation-State Bill ( חוֹק הַלְּאוֹם ‎) or the Nationality Bill , is an Israeli Basic Law which specifies the nature of the State of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people . The Law was adopted by the Knesset, with 62 in favor, 55 against, and two abstentions, on 19 July 2018 (7th Av , 5778). The Law is largely symbolic and declarative. It was met with sharp criticism internationally, including from several prominent Jewish-American organizations. In January 2019, the Supreme Court announced that challenges to the constitutionality of the Law will be heard by an 11-justice panel. The Court will decide if the Law, in whole or in part, violates Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty . Additionally, this will be the first time it addresses the question of whether it has the authority to strike down (part of) another Basic Law on such basis. The Times of Israel . The New York Times . Brinley Bruton, 'Israel 'nation-state' law prompts criticism around the world, including from U.S.

Law defining Israel as a nation-state Basic Law: Israel as the Nation-State of the Jewish People ( ), informally known as the Nation-State Bill ( חוֹק הַלְּאוֹם ‎) or the Nationality Bill , is an Israeli Basic Law which specifies the nature of the State of Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people . The law was passed by the Knesset —with 62 in favour, 55 against, and two abstentions—on 19 July 2018 (7 Av 5778), and is largely symbolic and declarative in nature. However, it was met with sharp criticism internationally, including from several prominent Jewish American organizations, and has been branded as racist and undemocratic by some critics. Following the passage of the law, petitions were filed with the Supreme Court of Israel challenging the constitutionality of the law. In January 2019, the Supreme Court announced that challenges to the constitutionality of the law would be heard by an 11-justice panel and would decide if the law, in whole or in part, violates the Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty , passed in 1992. Additionally, the hearing would also be the first time the Supreme Court addressed the question of whether it had the authority to strike down another Basic Law in whole or in part on the basis of constitutionality. In July 2021, the Supreme Court ruled that the law was constitutional and did not negate the state’s democratic character. Writing the opinion for the majority, President of the Court, Esther Hayut , stated that this " basic law is but one chapter in our constitution taking shape and it does not negate Israel's character as a democratic state ." The court's majority opinion concurred with arguments that the law merely declares the obvious — that Israel is a Jewish state — and that this does not detract from the individual rights of non-Jewish citizens, especially in light of other laws that ensure equal rights to all. The Times of Israel . The New York Times . The Times of Israel .