Hundreds of Israelis protest Jewish 'nation state' law

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Left wing Israelis participate in a demonstration to protest a controversial proposed law that would define Israel as "the Jewish state" on November 29, 2014.

Hundreds of leftwing Israelis have demonstrated in Jerusalem against a controversial draft law enshrining Israel's status as the Jewish national homeland.

The rally was organised by Israel's Peace Now settlement watchdog and held across the street from the residence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Peace Now said the rally was "an opportunity to let the democratic camp's voice be heard" against the draft law, which embodied "nationalism, racism and aggression" threatening to "ruin our country".

As the demonstration got underway, police said that arsonists had torched an Arab-Jewish school in Jerusalem and scrawled racist anti-Arab slogans on its walls.

"Go home, release us from your oppressive, racist, extremist and inciting regime," MP Tamar Zandberg of the opposition Meretz party said at the demonstration.

Critics say the new bill - endorsed by the cabinet on Sunday - will come at the expense of democracy and institutionalise discrimination against minorities, including Arabs.

Netanyahu insists the law would balance Israel's Jewish and democratic characteristics.

Protesters held signs reading "we won't let you ruin the country" and "the nation-state law of the right-wing government is democracy for Jews only" in the crisp evening.

Police said approximately 800 people attended the demonstration.