As reported by The Times of Israel on 19 July 2018, the Knesset has
approved the final text of Jewish nation-state law which enshrines Israel as "the national home of the Jewish people". Israel"s minority groups are now worried since this law is focused on protecting mainly Jewish interests, values and customs only and is being adopted as part of a "
de facto constitution", according to Christianity Today writing on 31 July 2018. Concerns were raised specifically over the fact that Arabic is no longer to be regarded as an official language in Israel but simply one with "special status". Another highly divisive clause declares "the development of Jewish settlement as a national value" and promises "to encourage and promote its establishment and consolidation."
Christians of both Arab and Messianic Jewish backgrounds have expressed their worries over the law, pointing out that it could become a platform for more racist laws against Arabs and lead to discriminatory treatment also for Messianic Jews in the area of housing, jobs and the right to build congregations. According to The New York Times reporting on 19 July 2018, Amir Fuchs, an expert in legislative processes and liberal thought at the Israel Democracy Institute
disagreed with claims that Israel is now setting up an apartheid system, pointing out that this new law "
does not form two separate legal norms applying to Jews or non-Jews".
Henriette Kats, persecution analyst at World Watch Research, comments: "With the exception of the deplorable downgrading of the Arab language, most of the content of this nation-state law is already in existence and other basic laws guaranteeing democratic civil rights to all Israel"s citizens remain unchanged. However, the nation-state law highlights Jewish Israeli interests to such an extent that it risks harming social cohesion in a country in which minority groups make up at least 25% of the total population. If one group emphasizes its identity so strongly, this can lead to other groups doing the same, thus giving rise to possible conflict. Already before the drafting of the nation- state law, Arab Israeli Christians - especially youth and young adults - were expressing their perceived lack of belonging. They do not feel accepted by Arab Israeli Muslims (as they have a different faith) or Jewish Israelis (as they are first and foremost seen as being Arabs). This is one of the main reasons for many Arab Israeli Christians to consider emigration. Israel"s nation-state law has certainly not helped improve their situation."
