Arab-Israeli lawmakers blast 'law of Jewish superiority' after vote

Arab-Israeli lawmakers resolutely condemned a law passed Thursday which defines Israel as the national homeland of the Jewish people and downgrades the status of Arabic from an official language to having a "special status."

"Separation, discrimination and racism are now enshrined in the law," Ayman Odeh, head of the mostly Arab Joint List party, said in statement.

"This is the law of Jewish superiority that excludes more than 20 percent of the citizens. This is a law designed entirely to defy, divide, disparage and continue the incitement of the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government," Odeh said.    (dpa)