Israeli lawmakers from the Joint Arab List plan to travel to Brussels this week to drum up support for a European Union condemnation of Israel over the controversial nation-state law.
The law, which defines Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people, has been sharply criticized by the country's Arab minority, with Arab lawmakers calling it "racist" and "verging on apartheid."
Last week, it was reported that Arab Knesset members had teamed up with Palestinian officials at the United Nations in a bid to promote a U.N. General Assembly resolution condemning Israel over the legislation.
Joint Arab List MK Ahmad Tibi denied that such a plan has been set in motion, saying, "The Joint Arab List has no standing in the United Nations and therefore it cannot promote such an appeal."
However, Israel Hayom has learned that the party hopes the EU will censure Israel and that this would prompt the United Nations to echo the move.
Joint Arab List MK Jamal Zahalka said Saturday that the Arab MKs "are traveling to Brussels to ask Europe to uphold its principles on minority rights and human rights."
Zahalka dismissed the harsh criticism leveled at the party over the move by many in the political sphere.
Those criticizing the party "have declared war on us [Israeli Arabs] and our rights by passing the nation-state law. We have the right to defend ourselves by seeking the support of the international community, among other things," he said.
"We [Israeli Arabs], as a minority, are in danger and we demand protection."
