13 December 2018•Update: 14 December 2018
JERUSALEM
U.S. film star Natalie Portman has denounced as “racist” an Israeli legislation that defines Israel as the “nation-state of the Jewish people”.
“This [law] is a mistake and I do not agree with it,” Portman said in an interview with the London-based al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper on Wednesday.
“It's hard to come from a place where your life lacking options,” added the Jewish actress.
“I only hope to be part of changing this and love our neighbors and work with our neighbors.”
Israel has come under heavy criticism from the international community after passing the law in July, which defines Israel as a Jewish state with a “united Jerusalem” as its capital.
The legislation also promotes Hebrew as the only official language, stripping Arabic as an official language while its “special status”.
The law risks further alienating the Arab minority who argue they already face discrimination from Israeli Jews and the government and already feel as though they are second-class citizens.
Palestinians, who have Israeli citizenship make up 21 percent of the population, are known as Israeli Arabs and have members in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset.
