The decision by Israel’s Knesset to adopt the Jewish nation-state bill on Thursday is reprehensible and deserves to be condemned unequivocally.
The legislation, adopted by 62 votes to 55, downgrades Arabic’s status and makes Hebrew the country’s national language. Previously Arabic was considered an official language and now it has been granted only special status.
The law also speaks of Israel as the historic homeland of the Jews and bestows upon them the “unique” right to self-determination there.
The bill, which also states that Al Quds is the capital of Israel, not only encourages illegal settlements, but also flagrantly violates all international laws and UN resolutions, especially those which criminalise Israeli settlements and call for cessation of violence against Palestinians. 
What is ironical is that this new unprecedented Israeli discriminatory measure, which seeks to form a sort of apartheid state, comes at a time when humanity is celebrating values of tolerance and acceptance of the other and the diversity of cultures and religions. 
By adopting this bill, Israel has shown its intent to reject these universal values and to walk alone in the path of hatred and racism.
And for the Palestinians, who are the rightful owners of the land that has been stolen from them by Israel, this legislation has come as a huge setback in the path of co-existence.
The bill is the latest Israeli attempt to undermine the Palestinian identity and the Arab and Islamic heritage, especially the status of the city of Al Quds, which it seeks to make its eternal capital in violation of international resolutions that affirm that the city was a Palestinian one occupied in 1967.
In a manner, the bill is dedicated to the Judaisation of Al Quds and seeks to eliminate the Arab presence in occupied Palestine in 1948.
The ratification of the bill is a new step to annex the West Bank and legitimise the practice of ethnic cleansing.
Even Israelis feel that the law is “an unnecessary embarrassment” to their country.
The Israel Democracy Institute’s Shuki Friedman said the law would force the courts to consider the country’s Jewish nature and lead to a more “narrow interpretation of Arabs’ rights”.
By emphasising Israel’s Jewish nature, it is “reducing, not directly but indirectly, its democratic nature,” Friedman said.
Given the draconian nature of the bill, it is hardly surprising that it has invited widespread opprobrium, including from Qatar’s Foreign Ministry which has expressed strong condemnation.    
What is sadly lacking at this juncture is unity among the Arab and Islamic countries, which is being exploited by the state of Israel to continue its persecution of Palestinians without let or hindrance. 
The Saudi-led quartet’s preoccupation with fabricated issues, such as conspiring to blockade Qatar, Egypt’s oppression of opposing views, and Saudi Arabia and the UAE’s encouragement of war in Libya and Yemen are facilitating Israel’s ill-treatment of Palestinians and its continued occupation of Arab lands.
As for the international community, it must realise that as long as it remains a mute spectator to Israel’s blatant violations of laws, the latter will be become more audacious and feel encouraged to adopt such unjust measures. 
It is imperative that the global community forces the Jewish state to rescind its latest racist legislation.