In July 2018, the Israeli parliament passed a law to declare that only Jewish people have the right of self-determination in the country, something members of the Palestinian community in Israel called discriminatory and verging on apartheid. The "nation-state" law describes Israel as "the national home of the Jewish people" and says the right to exercise national self-determination there is "unique to the Jewish people". It also puts Hebrew above Arabic as the official language and reiterates the status of Jerusalem under Israeli law, which defines the city as the "complete and united... capital of Israel." This seminar will bring together prominent voices to analyze the effect of the nation-state law within the context of Israeli occupation of and systematic discrimination toward the Palestinian people, and what options the international community have to act accordingly to end the oppression and discrimination.

Speakers and breakdown:

The seminar will be hosted and moderated by Keith Taylor MEP of the Green Party, United Kingdom.

David Cronin, Journalist and Author, will discuss what the Jewish-nation state law means and what the legal risks are of this law against the Palestinians, who consist of 20% of the population in Israel.

Julie Ward MEP of the UK Labour Party and Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament will speak on the effects of the "Jewish-nation state" law on the future of peace in the Middle East. Post 'Jewish-nation state' law, does Israel remain a democratic state?

Martina Anderson MEP of Sinn Fein (UK) and the Confederal Group of the European United Left- Nordic Green Left will discuss of the possible and practical role required from the EU to end Israeli discrimination against the Palestinians, and why the EU stops at expressing its concern regarding the law with no practical steps to prevent discrimination against Palestinians in Israel.

Yousef Jabarin MP of the Joint List (Israeli Knesset) and head of the International Relation Committee will speak on the effect of the law on Palestinians in Israel