NETANYAHU HAILS 'PIVOTAL MOMENT IN THE ANNALS OF ZIONISM'

After hours of furious debate, Knesset narrowly approve quasi-constitutional Basic Law, which critics say discriminates against Arabs and other minority communities

Similar to a constitution, the Basic Laws underpin Israel’s legal system and are more difficult to repeal than regular laws.*The nation-state bill, proponents say, puts Jewish values and democratic values on equal footing. Critics, however, say the law effectively discriminates against Israel’s Arabs and other minority communities.

The law also declares that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, sets the Hebrew calendar as the official calendar of the state, and recognizes Independence Day, days of remembrance and Jewish holidays.*One clause of the bill downgrades the Arabic language from official to “special” standing, but also cryptically stipulates that “this clause does not harm the status given to the Arabic language before this law came into effect.”

https://www.timesofisrael.com/knesset-votes-contentious-jewish-nation-state-bill-into-law/