Israel's Nation-State Law makes Hebrew the state's language and gives Arabic a 'special status'
Background
The Knesset adopted Basic Law: Israel as the Nation State of the Jewish People by 62 votes to 55 on 19 July 2018.
The law says the right to exercise national self-determination in Israel is unique to the Jewish people.
It singles out Hebrew as the state's language; Arabic, recognised for decades as an official language alongside Hebrew, is given a 'special status'.
The law also describes Jerusalem, 'complete and united', as the capital of Israel.
On 8 July 2021 Israel's Supreme Court upheld the law, saying it did not negate Israel's democratic character, Al Jazeera reported.
The Supreme Court is again at the centre of Knesset election news in October 2026.
In plain words
Basic Law a law of constitutional character passed by the Knesset — The Nation-State Law is one of Israel's Basic Laws.
Self-determination a people's right to decide its own political status — The law says Israel's national self-determination is unique to the Jewish people.