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Galilee community admits only supporters of Zionism
By Jack Khoury
Tags: Arabs, Israel News, Zionism

While the Knesset is debating legislation aimed at ensuring Israeli citizens' loyalty to the state and promoting the Jewish and Zionist character of the country, some of the ideas embodied in these proposals seem to have filtered down to the local level. Haaretz has obtained a document that reflects a similar approach in the Galilee community of Manof, with respect to acceptance of new members.

In the new communal bylaws for Manof, there is a clause stating the need "to maintain [life in the community] in accordance with principles of cooperation and the values of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state in the spirit of the Declaration of Independence." The regulations stipulate that applicants for membership "must share the founding vision of the community, based upon principles of cooperation, volunteerism, democracy and self-motivation, as well as the values of the Zionist movement, Jewish heritage, settlement of the Land of Israel ... and observance of Jewish holidays."

A comparison of the new bylaws with an earlier version shows that the references to Zionist values and Jewish heritage did not exist previously, nor did mention of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. The new version was adopted in March by a vote of 87 in favor and 23 against. The community's administration called the change an effort to define the "attributes" of Manof, which is part of the Misgav Regional Council and home to some 175 families.
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Rami Mendelzweig, who lives near Manof, said area residents are awaiting a ruling by the High Court of Justice on a petition by a couple from the Arab town of Sakhnin, who were denied permission to move to the Misgav community of Rakefet.

"Clearly if bylaws similar to the new bylaws in Manof were adopted in Rakefet, and in other communities, the path for Arab families seeking to exercise their right to choose a place of residence would be blocked," Mandelzweig said.

Said a spokesman for the Misgav Regional Council: "This is in no shape or form a matter of racism, but rather a way of life, holidays, ceremonies, customs and the central ethos of the community. Manof undertook broad and comprehensive consideration of this subject, involving all of its members. Zionism represents a central value in the life of the community."
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