Editorial, October 15, 2010
An oath or a curse?
THE Israeli Government on Sunday approved a measure that would amend the country’s Citizenship Act to obligate new non-Jewish citizens of Israel to pledge allegiance to a “Jewish, democratic state”.
At first glance, something about the amendment seems a bit off. As the Anti-Defamation League asked: why are non-Jews being singled out and Jews exempted from what has been termed by some as the “loyalty oath”?
That watchdog group has endorsed a revision that would extend the pledge requirement to all immigrants – Jews and non-Jews alike.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister and Labour Party chairman Ehud Barak has insisted that the words “in the spirit of the Declaration of Independence” be added to the text, apparently in order to lessen the impression that the amendment sets a precedent, but also to mitigate what Israel’s non-Jewish minority communities have said is a subtext of mistrust implicit in the new requirement.
Both of these sensible suggestions would improve upon the proposal, but actually miss the larger point. What does Israel hope to gain from implementing the oath at all?
Here’s the rub: while laws are usually created in order to fix problems, this one seems to create them where none existed.
As for the timing, one need hardly mention the impact it has on Israel’s PR image internationally
So the question must be asked why this legislation, and why now?
The obvious answer can be found in the Yisrael Beitenu party slogan from the last election – “Without loyalty there is no citizenship”.
In the absence of any identifiable pressing need for this legislation, the inescapable conclusion is to interpret this week’s vote as nothing more than an appeasement to satisfy a coalition partner’s campaign promise.
At the Knesset, such political horse-trading is commonplace and usually benign. However, the impact of this particular legislation may come at a much dearer cost.
Distrust of Israel’s minorities will not breed loyalty, no more than signing a piece of paper will ensure it. The irony of the loyalty oath is that it may alienate more minorities against Israel – the very opposite of its intent.
Israel’s minority immigrants, as well as its non-Jewish citizens, deserve respect.
The best way to ensure continued loyalty of Israel’s minorities would not be through any legislation, oath or coercion, but rather through the protection of rights, and pursuit of equality for all citizens as were envisioned by Israel’s founders and Zionist visionaries from all parts of the political spectrum.
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