Israel rejects petition against controversial law targeting Palestinian lawmakers

An Israeli court has rejected a petition against a controversial law that targets Palestinian-Israeli lawmakers, a legal firm representing the minority has said.

Adalah said in a statement that Israel's supreme court on Sunday unanimously dismissed an appeal filed by the centre and other rights groups.

"The Israeli Supreme Court has failed in its role as defender of the minority," the statement said.

"The court has subordinated human rights to the will of the predatory majority, which is acting openly to eject the Arab Knesset members from Israel's parliament," the statement said.

"The Supreme Court ruled that the law applies equally to all, though it is patently clear to all that the only individuals who will be harmed by the law are Knesset members from minority - primarily Arab - parties," it added.

Israel's parliament passed the so-called expulsion law in 2016.

The legislation allows lawmakers to oust Knesset members who support armed struggle against the Israeli state.

Rights groups have condemned the law as an attempt to silence Israel's Palestinian minority and empty parliament of Palestinian lawmakers.

In January, Palestinian lawmakers were ejected from the Knesset after they protested against a speech by the US vice-president recognising Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

Palestinian Israelis, the descendants of Palestinians who remained on their land when Israel was created in 1948, make up around 20 percent of the Israeli population.

Israeli authorities have long been accused of discriminating against its Arab population.