Hard-line Israeli party to introduce loyalty bill
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The Associated Press
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mayıs 26, 2009 00:00
JERUSALEM - An ultranationalist Israeli party headed by the foreign minister said yesterday it plans to introduce a bill making Israeli citizenship contingent on an oath of allegiance, targeting the country's Arab minority.
The bill follows a separate proposal Sunday by the same party that would make it illegal for Arabs to mourn the "catastrophe" - the term Palestinians use to describe the exile caused by Israel's founding.
Both offers by Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beitenu party focus on the perceived disloyalty of the country's Arab citizens, roughly one fifth of the population. The legislation, which must still pass several hurdles to win final approval, drew harsh criticism from opposition MPs and rights groups. Yisrael Beitenu swept to third place in recent parliamentary elections with a message that suggested Israel's Arabs were an internal threat to the country. It is a senior partner in the coalition government.
The new legislation would make citizenship contingent on an oath of loyalty to Israel as a "Jewish, Zionist and democratic state," party spokesman Tal Nahum said. The bill would also allow the government to revoke the citizenship of anyone who does not comply or perform some form of military or national service. Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has yet to express a position on the matter.
Both offers by Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beitenu party focus on the perceived disloyalty of the country's Arab citizens, roughly one fifth of the population. The legislation, which must still pass several hurdles to win final approval, drew harsh criticism from opposition MPs and rights groups. Yisrael Beitenu swept to third place in recent parliamentary elections with a message that suggested Israel's Arabs were an internal threat to the country. It is a senior partner in the coalition government.
The new legislation would make citizenship contingent on an oath of loyalty to Israel as a "Jewish, Zionist and democratic state," party spokesman Tal Nahum said. The bill would also allow the government to revoke the citizenship of anyone who does not comply or perform some form of military or national service. Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has yet to express a position on the matter.