AMMAN, July 19 (Xinhua) -- Jordan on Thursday condemned Israel for passing the controversial "Jewish state" law, the state-run Petra news agency reported.
Jumana Ghunaimat, Jordan's Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications, said the new legislation fuels the racial discriminations in Israel and is in stark violation with the international laws and conventions.
She added that the new law undermines the peacemaking opportunities and will lead to more violence and tension in the region.
The minister called on the international community to shoulder its responsibilities and take swift actions to stand up against the law and its consequences.
The Jordanian official said the right of the Palestinian refugees to return is a constant and inalienable right in line with the international resolutions and the sole way to achieve peace is the two-state solution that entails the creation of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital at the borders of 1967.
Israel passed on Thursday a bill that defines the country as an "exclusively Jewish state," in a move denounced by its Arab citizens and human rights groups.
The law, supported by the right-wing government, passed by 62 votes in favor and 55 votes against after discussions that lasted until early morning.
The law states that only Jews have the right of self-determination in Israel and revokes the status of Arabic as an official language.
Arabs represent about 20 percent of Israel's 9 million population.
