Joint Arab List lawmakers on Wednesday appealed to the Inter-Parliamentary Union to take action against Israel over the recently passed nation-state law.
The IPU is a global body of 178 countries that has the stated mission to "protect and build global democracy through political dialogue and concrete action." It has permanent observer status at the U.N. General Assembly.
Though largely symbolic, the controversial nation-state law, which states that "Israel is the historic homeland of the Jewish people and they have an exclusive right to national self-determination in it," has infuriated Arab lawmakers, who have labeled it "racist" and discriminatory against Israel's non-Jewish citizens, who make up some 20% of the population.
In a letter to the IPU, Joint Arab List MK Yousef Jabareen said that "the nation-state law dangerously contradicts the basic principles of international law and promotes an apartheid regime."
He also wrote that the nation-state law relegates Arabic – the mother tongue of a native national minority in Israel – from an official language to a "special status."
Jabareen said the law promotes "ethnic superiority for Jews" and encourages racist policies in central areas of life.
Appealing to the IPU is part of a Joint Arab List campaign seeking international action against Israel over the law, though it is unclear what kind of action it can take on this matter.
As part of their campaign, Joint Arab List MKs are scheduled to meet with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini next month.
