A law proposed by Yisrael Beiteinu MK David Rotem, and which has passed its first reading in the Knesset, ostensibly deals with a minor matter - a change in the wording of the swearing-in oath elected Knesset members take when taking office. However, this proposal, if it becomes law, is liable to have serious implications.

The current oath reads: "I swear to be loyal to the State of Israel and to fulfill in good faith my mission in the Knesset." Under the proposed law, an elected member would be required to take the following vow: "I swear to be loyal to the Jewish and democratic state of Israel, its values and its symbols and to fulfill in good faith my mission in the Knesset."

It appears that the purpose of the proposal is to strengthen the Jewish character of the State of Israel by preventing the swearing-in of anyone who is not prepared to commit himself to the State of Israel as a Jewish entity. In fact, its aim is to portray the Arab members of the Knesset as a group opposed to the existence of Israel in its current form and to sabotage their ability to function as members of the Knesset. The result of the proposal could be dangerous to Israel on various levels. Moreover, it will also miss its original target and weaken Israel's status as a Jewish state.

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The proposed vow would likely cause Knesset members who represent the Arab public in Israel to refrain from taking the oath altogether because of the difficulty inherent in it for them. The direct legal-constitutional outcome of not taking the oath is the denial of the Knesset member's rights. The deprivation of such rights brings up constitutional questions, but it does not appear that the Knesset member would be prevented from fulfilling his parliamentary role.

Still, it appears that the main damage this proposal would cause is the sense of segregation and alienation it is liable to arouse in the Arab public, as it would contribute to the expansion of the gap between the Jewish and Arab communities and prevent members of the Arab public from participating in Knesset elections. And indeed, it is in the interest of every citizen who believes in the importance of Israel's existence as a democracy that the entire voting public participate in elections. Abstaining from such, especially in a national-ethnic context, severely damages the democratic nature of the State of Israel and its image as a democracy.

Undermining the trust in the Israeli democratic regime - especially because of the discrimination against Arabs - will lead to Israel's isolation in the world, its alienation and even hatred of it. It could also encourage those who want to question its right to exist to do exactly that.

Weakening the public's faith in the democratic character of Israel, both at home and abroad, will ultimately also damage the legitimacy of its Jewish character, which will appear to be irreconcilable with Israel's democratic character. The one will appear to come at the expense of the other, and indeed this has already happened as is implied by the proposed law.

Anyone who supports this proposal will lose out. The law will not help strengthen the country's Jewish character, but will raise debate over the legitimacy of its Jewishness. Anyone who wants to support the Jewish and democratic Israel and to strengthen its existence as a legitimate and accepted state among the countries of the world should completely reject this proposed law, which would bring no benefit, only harm.

The author was the head of the special tasks department at the State Prosecutor's Office