Jewish and democratic state

Common card · No. 210597

"Jewish and democratic state" is the Israeli legal definition of the nature and character of the State of Israel. The "Jewish" nature was first defined within the Israeli Declaration of Independence in May 1948 (see Jewish state and Jewish homeland). The "democratic" character was first officially added in the amendment to Israel's Basic Law: The Knesset, which was passed in 1985 (amendment 9, clause 7A). Numerous scholars and political observers have debated the definition, particularly whether the terms are contradictory or complementary. Central to these debates are the rights of Palestinians, including Palestinian citizens of Israel and Palestinians living under Israeli occupation in Gaza and the West Bank. Critics have said that Israel is not a democracy, but an apartheid regime.

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