Dr. Saeb Erekat on the Passing of the “Jewish Nation-State" Bill: Israel Has Become a “De Jure” Apartheid Regime

The passing of the “Jewish Nation-State" bill aims at legitimizing Israel’s institutional discrimination against its Arab Palestinian citizens, as well as it turns a “de-facto” Apartheid regime into a “de-jure” reality for all of historic Palestine.

This law builds up on dozens of racist and discriminatory laws against non-Jews, being an extension of racist and colonialist practices that aim at burying the rights of the Palestinian people.

We are convinced that this law would not have been passed without the culture of impunity that Israel continues to enjoy. It is time for the international community, and particularly for those who still claim to “share democratic values” with Israel, such as the European Union, to take measures in accordance with this new reality of Israel, a state that systematically violates its obligations under International Law and UN resolutions, defining itself as an Apartheid state. All people affected by this law must receive protection from the international community.

No racist law will undermine the rights of our people. We are proud of being a strong nation deeply rooted in our homeland. We will remain steadfast holding on tightly to the historic, national and human rights of our people wherever they are, including by fully ending the Israeli occupation by freeing the State of Palestine on the 1967 border with East Jerusalem as its capital, as well as fulfilling all our rights based on International Law, including the refugee issue in accordance with UNGA Resolution 194.