Tel-Chai Nation

If America's got this special pledge of citizenship, and if there's other countries that have it as well, why not Israel? Well it looks like now, we'll be able to get one:

Netanyahu said on Wednesday that he would ask his ministers to debate and approve an amendment to the Citizenship Act, which would require anyone aspiring to become an Israeli citizen to pledge their allegiance not only to Israel, but to a Jewish democratic Israel. This amendment is similar to the one previously proposed by both Justice Minister Yaakov Ne’eman and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who has advocated a loyalty oath to the Jewish state for all Israelis, including Arab citizens.

Rotem expressed his regret that members of the Labor Party, such as MK Avishay Braverman who called the idea “an infuriating, irresponsible decision which will only fuel the fires of delegitimization against Israel worldwide,” are opposed to the amendment.

“They knew about this clause in the coalition agreement and they did not object,” said Rotem. “It was convenient for them to take on their respective roles [in the government] and now they shout [about the Citizenship Act]. It’s not a matter of right and left, this law is meant to protect Israel as a Jewish State. The Labor ministers must have seen the polls that are predicting six seats for their party, and they thought it would benefit them if they resist the law.”

Let's hope it won't be to Labor's benefit, but you never know. What this does suggest however, is that Labor doesn't have very high respect for America's requirements along the same lines, demanding that potential citizens pledge allegiance to Old Glory and the USA. They clearly also don't want to protect the country against immigrants with less than flattering ideas of what to do in this place. And they clearly are asking to be voted down to half their current size.

Labels: immigration, Israel