Jewish and democratic state

"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.^[1] According to Israeli author and journalist Yossi Klein Halevi, "Israel is based on two non-negotiable identities. The homeland of all Jews, whether or not they are citizens of Israel, and it's the state of all its citizens, whether or not they are Jews."^[2]

^ ""In recent years, the idea that there is something inherently contradictory between Israel's identity as both Jewish and democratic has begun to penetrate into mainstream academic and journalistic circles."" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-03-31. Retrieved 2013-11-19.
^ Joshua Mitnick (2018-07-24). "Does new law tilt Israel away from its democratic values?". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 2018-07-28.

[1] ""In recent years, the idea that there is something inherently contradictory between Israel's identity as both Jewish and democratic has begun to penetrate into mainstream academic and journalistic circles."" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-03-31. Retrieved 2013-11-19.

[2] Joshua Mitnick (2018-07-24). "Does new law tilt Israel away from its democratic values?". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 2018-07-28.

[1]

[2]