Netanyahu seeks a law to define Israel as a 'Jewish state'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday that he will seek to enact a law that defines Israel as a Jewish state, in a move that is set to be met with opposition from Arab citizens who make up 20 per cent of the population.

Netanyahu said: “I will call [to put] a law describing Israel as the state of the Jewish people, ” while pointing out Palestinians’ rejection of his demand.

In the absence of a formal constitution, a set of basic laws must were defined and approved by the parliament since the creation of Israel in 1948 involving government authorities, legislature and judiciary, protecting civil rights and determining the status of Jerusalem, disputed internationally as the capital of Israel.