(Gil Hoffman/Jpost) The controversial Jewish nation-state bill became Israel’s 14th Basic Law this week after it passed into law in the Knesset plenum by a vote of 62 in favor, 55 against, and two abstentions. The law passed after a stormy debate full of theatrics that stretched more than eight hours.

The head of the special committee that legislated the bill, MK Amir Ohana (Likud), told the plenum it could be the most important legislation in the history of the state.

The Jewish nation-state bill is a Basic Law with constitutional heft that declares Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people. It anchors in law the state’s menorah emblem, Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, national holidays and the right of all Israeli residents to preserve their heritage without consideration of religion and nationality.

Applauding the vote, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the law as “a defining moment in the history of Zionism and the history of the State of Israel.”