Theopolitical notes on Israel’s declaration of independence

In 2018, the Knesset of Israel, led by its right-wing coalition, adopted the Nation-State Law, which affirmed that the State of Israel is the “nation-state of the Jewish people” and only the Jewish people. Many have contrasted this law with Israel’s 1948 Declaration of Independence, which promised “complete equality of social and political rights” to all citizens, “irrespective of religion, race, or sex,” and expressed a commitment to the moral teachings of the biblical prophets. The Declaration was written by socialists and rabbis, while the Nation-State Law was written by right-wing nationalists. The Declaration focused on three prophetic values: freedom, justice, and peace.