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Last update - 02:19 01/09/2007 Interior Minister accused of preventing converts from immigrating to Israel By Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz Correspondent The Interior Ministry is preventing hundreds of converts to Judaism from immigrating to Israel, in violation of a High Court of Justice ruling, a Jewish organization told Haaretz recently. Some 500 converts are waiting to receive papers allowing them to immigrate to Israel from a Prime Minister's Office panel in charge of screening their cases, but the panel has not convened in over three months. "Instead of encouraging the converts to make aliyah, the Interior Ministry is instinctively suspicious of their motives and intentions, making hundreds of converts wait months and years in complete contravention of the High Court's instructions," says Rabbi Shaul Faver, chairman of the non-profit Jewish organization Itim. Advertisement Sources say the committee's work is being held up by members from the Interior Ministry with the aim of creating obstacles for converts. One such measure requires gentiles who have converted to Judaism abroad to live at least a year within the local Jewish community before they are entitled to make aliyah under the Law of Return, a law entitling any Jew to immigrate to Israel. The ministry is continuing to make this demand despite a High Court ruling from 2005 prohibiting the practice. Christian-born Yorkoi Kvarneti from Finland has been living as an observant Jew for over five years. He first came to Israel as a student some 8 years ago, became interested in Judaism and studied at a yeshiva. Though his commitment to Judaism is unchallenged by the establishment, he has been unable to settle his resident status for over two years because of the committee's inaction. The PMO, however, blamed the committee's failure to meet on the summer vacation. "The summer holidays and administrative problems have caused a situation in which the committee hasn't convened in a month," the PMO said in a statement. "The committee chairman believes its role is to check whether converting to Judaism isn't being used as an instrument to receive residency," continued the statement. "Prime Minister Ehud Olmert attaches the utmost importance to the issue of conversion to Judaism and his office often deals with this serious issue." More Jewish World news and features Bookmark to del.icio.us   Say what you want French court: Claim that Al-Dura tape doctored isn`t libelous. Peace in our time Olmert: Peace talks with Syria are a 'national duty'.   1.   They are Jewish 14:01  |  Nik Miller 31/08/07   2.   "Jewish converts ..... !" 15:19  |  Veteran Convert 31/08/07   3.   Converts and aliya 15:56  |  leon 31/08/07   4.   The exception to the Rule 16:10  |  Za`atar 31/08/07   5.   ONCE A JEW, ALWAYS A JEW 16:17  |  Akiva Patysh 31/08/07   6.   Veteran, It`s how you feel in your heart-Olmert incompetence 16:43  |  Tzedaka 31/08/07   7.   Converts and Israel 16:57  |  Yair ben Avraham 31/08/07   8.   how 17:11  |  anon 31/08/07   9.   Jewish Converts and soft landings in Israel 17:16  |  Alice of Wonderland 31/08/07   10.   right of return? 18:09  |  safier 31/08/07   11.   Veteran -Tzedakah - how 18:20  |  Polybios 31/08/07   12.   Existing laws are to be observed without any restriction whatsoev 18:35  |  H.H.M 31/08/07   13.   Ignorance of many Jews by birth 18:44  |  Dovid 31/08/07   14.   Olmert`s Knesset - go home! 18:52  |  Jonathan 31/08/07   15.   The breeded theocracy of Israel has spoken. 19:52  |  Kris 31/08/07   16.   Aliah 21:10  |  Eliahu 31/08/07   17.   If Charges are True, Heads Should Roll 21:36  |  Tod Zuckerman 31/08/07   18.   To # 12 , Dovid of Boston 22:27  |  Veteran Convert 31/08/07   19.   To # 16 , Eliahu of Cleveland 22:49  |  Veteran Convert 31/08/07   20.   A Jew is a Jew, by birth or by choice 22:55  |  Dovid 31/08/07   21.   Dear Converts 23:16  |  Danite 31/08/07   22.   The Freaks must go 23:19  |  Danite 31/08/07   23.   To # 13 , Dovid of Boston 23:40  |  Veteran Convert 31/08/07   24.   danith 00:34  |  richard 01/09/07   25.   What should be done for Jews by choice who want to make aliyah? 00:53  |  Dovid 01/09/07   26.   Converts are not `real` Jews 02:13  |  Mark Lincoln 01/09/07   27.   An American by birth or an American by choice? 02:15  |  Mark Lincoln 01/09/07   28.   Mark, I prefer to be hated than wrong. 02:42  |  Akiva Patysh 01/09/07   29.   Maybe one of you can tell me... 02:45  |  Akiva Patysh 01/09/07   30.   So if were a Pal and convert to judaism, I can 06:33  |  Roger 01/09/07   31.   mark Lincoln wrong 06:57  |  Danite 01/09/07   32.   Dovid 06:59  |  Danite 01/09/07   33.   Obviously.... 10:29  |  Clickfool 01/09/07   34.   converting abroad is used as a way for messianic christians 22:40  |  Sarah 01/09/07   35.   Govt. bureaucrats & officials acting outside the law 08:46  |  Tova M. 02/09/07   36.   Converts 12:59  |  Naim S. Mahlab 02/09/07   37.   The `Creeping Coup` of the Orthodox 13:47  |  Rowan Berkeley 02/09/07   38.   Converts 13:52  |  Keter 02/09/07   39.   converts 15:32  |  HK 02/09/07   40.   Many Russians in Tel Aviv are now selling Pork 15:59  |  Gisele 02/09/07   41.   IEUW veteran convert !!! 21:52  |  John 02/09/07   42.   Indeed # 34 ! 21:57  |  John 02/09/07   43.   Converts and Israel - It`s between you and HaShem 14:15  |  Avraham Tzadok 22/05/08

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