Today in Israel thousands of Jews and Arabs stood together against the proposed "Loyalty Oaths" that the Israeli Cabinet at the urging of Prime Minister Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Liebernan are pushing up to vote.
This oath is for new non-citizens of Israel stating that they have to declare themselves loyal to Israel as a Jewish and Democratic State. There are many (I am one of the many) both here (in America) and in Israel that stand against this.
Join me for a discussion on this issue.
As reported in last Sunday's Guardian
The Israeli cabinet today approved a bill requiring new non-Jewish citizens to swear an oath of allegiance to Israel as a "Jewish and democratic state", in a move that has brought accusations of discrimination against Israel's Arab minority. One dissenting cabinet minister referred to a "whiff of fascism".
The bill, originally promoted by the rightwing foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, who has made the issue of loyalty a hallmark of his political career, was passed by a big majority despite the opposition of Labour party members.
Now the Guardian states that it is felt that the bill was a quid pro quo from Prime Minister Netanyahu that he could hold his coalition together if he went against them on a continuation of the settlement freeze in the Occupied Territories.
Needless to say this is still a divise issue. America's progressive Pro - Israel Lobby J Street ... had this to say
J Street opposes the proposal Israel’s Government is considering to amend the oath that non-Jewish applicants must take to acquire Israeli citizenship.
The oath, which currently asks new citizens to pledge loyalty to the state of Israel and its laws, would now include the phrase "as a Jewish, democratic state." Israel’s laws and its Declaration of Independence speak for themselves in affirming Israel’s Jewish and democratic nature. Adding the new language serves no purpose other than furthering the political agenda of some factions in the present governing coalition.
Further, the new language will put Israel at odds not only with other democracies, but with its stated commitment to full equality for its Arab, Druze, Muslim, Christian and other non-Jewish citizens. We are unaware of another democracy in the world that requires an oath of loyalty to the religious identity of the state. Certainly none discriminates in this manner in the conditions for citizenship on the basis of religion.
Joining that condemnation of the Loyalty Oath were thousands of Israelis today in Tel-Aviv: Thousands march in Tel Aviv against loyalty oath bill
Thousands marched in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening in a joint Jewish-Arab protest against the cabinet's approval of a controversial amendment to the citizenship bill, requiring non-Jews seeking citizenship to pledge allegiance to Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.
.....Meretz MK Oron also condemned the loyalty oath bill, calling it racist and anti-democratic.
"This anti-democratic attack of legislation was meant to exclude the Arab population from the democratic game and to eternalize an ethnocentric right-wing regime in the government," said Oron. "The Knesset has 11 bills pending, and each one of them oozes with racism."
and Ynet reports: Thousands protest loyalty oath bill
Protest over the amendment to the Citizenship Act continues – some 6,000 people on Saturday evening gathered in Tel Aviv's Gan Meir to protest of the loyalty oath bill, which was approved by the government on Sunday.
The participants, who marched toward the Sarona compound, carried signs reading: "Lieberman's voice, Netanyahu's hands", "Fascism and ethnic cleansing are standing proud" and "together we'll protect democracy."
On a personal note this loyalty oath saddens me. I am all in favor of Israel as the National State and Homeland of the Jewish People, but, what is the need for an oath except to send a message to it's non Jewish population that they are "other". Further, as Israeli settlements expand into the West Bank (including Hebron) it sets up for the disenfranchisement for millions of Palestinians that might one day be Israeli citizens.
I agree with those who say this runs directly contrary to Israel's purpose as a State. I qoute from The Israeli Declaration of Independence::
THE STATE OF ISRAEL will be open for Jewish immigration and for the Ingathering of the Exiles; it will foster the development of the country for the benefit of all its inhabitants; it will be based on freedom, justice and peace as envisaged by the prophets of Israel; it will ensure complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex; it will guarantee freedom of religion, conscience, language, education and culture; it will safeguard the Holy Places of all religions; and it will be faithful to the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.
Need one say more......