Israel: Law may be changed to allow only those with at least one Jewish parent to immigrate
by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – Israel’s new government is considering a drastic change to the country’s 1950 Law of Return that would allow only children of at least one Jewish parent to ‘make Aliyah’ and immigrate to Israel, i24 News reports.
Under the current Law, people with at least one Jewish grandparent can immigrate to Israel with a non-Jewish spouse and children.
No formal commission has yet been set up to examine the notion of a change in the Law of Return, but the idea is in keeping with the aim of the Likud-led coalition government, which includes far-right controversial figures, to strengthen Jewish dominion and control of Israel.
The country’s Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) has reported there are a million Israeli citizens “who do not identify as members of any major faith,” i24 said. Most of these citizens immigrated to Israel from the former Soviet republics, and their demographic is continuing to grow.
The suggested change to the Law of Return has drawn the consternation and criticism of Jewish leaders abroad. In a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin sent on Sunday, the leaders of seven major Jewish American and Zionist organizations said changes to the law could cause a rift between Israel and Jews in the diaspora.
“Any change in the delicate and sensitive status quo on issues such as the Law of Return or conversion could threaten to unravel the ties between us and keep us away from each other,” the leaders wrote.
“We are determined to work together with you and your government to ensure the continued prosperity of the entire Jewish people, and we are sure that together we can find respectful, inclusive, and constructive solutions to every challenge at hand without harming the delicate fabric that holds us together as one united people,” the leaders added