Conversions bill sets Netanyahu on collision course with U.S. Jews
American communities outraged, claiming PM broke personal promise to ensure bill granting Orthodox rabbis a monopoly on conversion in Israel would not become law.
By Natasha Mozgovaya Tags: Israel news US Jews Benjamin NetanyahuThe Jewish Federations of North America on Sunday called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to block a controversial Knesset bill that would give the Orthodox rabbinate a monopoly on conversions to Judaism, saying it was "deeply shocked" by the initiative.
“We are deeply shocked and disappointed to hear that the bill will suddenly be presented tomorrow in its current, highly problematic format without any input from [Jewish Agency chairman Natan] Sharansky or Diaspora communities," wrote JFNA chief Jerry Silverman.
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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a meeting of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in New York on July 8, 2010. |
| Photo by: Reuters |
The bill, proposed by David Rotem, an MK for Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman's hard-line Yisrael Beiteinu party, has already spurred a wave of criticism. Jewish leaders in the U.S. have voiced outrage, saying that they received direct assurances from cabinet ministers, including the prime minister himself, that it would not pass into law.
Silverman said he had also forwarded a copy of his letter to Sharansky, in the hope that he would intervene personally with Rotem to broker a compromise. But Rotem later canceled all planned meetings with the Jewish Agency boss, indicating the bill would be put forward in its original form.
"All of the discussions, understandings and efforts seem to have disappeared overnight and we are left feeling upset and even betrayed by MK Rotem and those behind the bill," Silverman wrote.
By early Monday morning it appeared that far from diluting the bill, Rotem would present a version even more strongly worded than the original, including a clause that would give the rabbinate power to rule on the validity of conversions according to a convert's conduct.
Rabbi Eric Yoffie, a leader of the Reform movement in the U.S., told Haaretz that the decision to proceed with a “much worse” version of the bill was “astonishing, foolish, disruptive".
"It will cause anger among American Jews when Israel needs their support the most,” Yoffie said.
Silverman made clear that his organization holds Netanyahu personally responsible for failing to block the potentially divisive legislation.
“Mr. Prime Minister, please forgive my blunt and direct tone, but I do feel that this is a critical moment whose gravity cannot be understated," he wrote.
"On behalf of the Jewish Federations of North America we deeply respect and appreciate your accessibility and your leadership and urge you to act decisively to stop this bill from proceeding before the proper discussions that you requested are completed.”
The latest crisis in relations between Israel and the Jewish Diaspora relations comes just three days after Netanyahu left the U.S. after a meeting with President Barack Obama, in which he apparently succeeded in smoothing over a diplomatic spat about Israel's construction of settlements in the West Bank.
Earlier this year the government angered U.S. Jews by refusing to meet a congressional delegation brought to Israel by American-Jewish group J Street.
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The conversion bill is a travesty. So if the ultra orthodox think they can survive without US donations, funds and munitions, so be it. Well the world is going against them, so I guess the last vestiges of the disaspora will do the same. It seems these acolytes of stupidity are on the payroll of the of the perfidious terrorists who want the destuction of the state- Hail Netanyahu the footnote history will remember you as Who????
If this law results in the rejection of my friends and relatives who have converted, who are good, honorable, and live day by day by following basic teachings but are not defined by strict ritual, then the hell with the short sighted Orthodoxy. They will further alienate and divide Jews worldwide. The stupidity is highlighted by there timing. G-d help Israel without the total support of Jews in the Diaspora.
This bill would put the scorn of some holier-than-thou person toward modern Judaism into law. Nothing that the government of Israel could do after that would make up for such an affront.
Why is Israel dividing its people into groups ? Are you not a united Jewish people ? Isnt Israel the Jewish craddle ? This give me the chills and i draw resemblance to Germany when their people was divided in two by the Nürnberglaws 1935. Is this some Zionist sick apartaid way of making a point to The World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) ?
Intolerance of one's own people is a greater crime against Judaism than what many Gentiles may have committed in their anti-Semetic actions. Now we have anti-Semetism within our own ranks being condoned by the Israeli leadership.
I don't see the problem. Israel is supposed to be a Jewish state isn't it ? So it's not unreasonable to follow the Torah as given to the Jewish people on mount Sinai. These laws have endured from then till now. If you don't want to follow them, that's fine. If you're halachically Jewish you'll still be Jewish. I can't see how it's right for someone to come along and say oh that's too hard for you, it's okay, do it ( or don't do it) and we'll still say you're following the laws. Imagine if someone came along and said, oh you're in a hurry? Well, run that red light and we'll still say you're following the law. My sister in law left her country of residence in order to convert. Her conversion took several years. Today she is completely accepted as Jewish and I dare say she would be accepted in Israel. If you're going to do something do it right!!
So what about the sincere convert who brings her non-observant Jewish husband back to the Jewish faith? What if she does things to protect the Jewish people (at the risk of her own harm?) What it says is that Israel doesn't care about true converts...it HURTS. I'm afraid for Israel is she does not take her converts in. Many converts are doing the best they can at keeping the Jewish faith...and raising young Jewish children. Are we not good enough for Israel? Wasn't Israel destroyed in the past for Jews being unkind to other Jews? I'm afraid of what will happen if this bill passes............. So, Israel might turn her back on Jews in the Diaspora? They might as well say that WE are NOT GOOD ENOUGH for THEM! I guess our money isn't good enough for you either? I will keep giving my money to you... Will you love and accept me?
Of course this hurts. The rabbinate should take lessons from Hillel instead of Shammai. We can say people from Burma or Ethiopia are jews, but the americans conservative or reform are persona non grata. A house cannot stand divided, until now -lol
If American Jews can't trust Israelis through this backstabbing bill after all the money American Jews have sent and encourage the US Government to send, then I can't see why American Jews should bother support Israel? Israel has long sought support from its diaspora, and it was the diaspora that created it. Theodor Herzl would really hate the current Israel as would Ben Gurion.
Can Israel isolate itself anymore than it already is from the rest of the world? Apparently so. Bluster and bluff but who is your Daddy? The U.S. Try life without us.
is Abba.
The conversion bill is an insult to Conservative and Reform rabbis in the U.S. Insulting them will undermine political support in the U.S. for Israel.
This bill has real consequences for me. I'm an American Jew who adopted a non-Jewish child. I made sure to give him an orthdox brit milah and an orthodox mikvah ceremony, knowing that only orthodox is recognized in Israel. But now, seeral conversions have been reversed by Haredi israeli rabbis, either because the rabbis performing them were deemed "not orthodox enough" or because the converted people, post-conversion, were not living an "orthodox enough" life. I'm a life-long fervent Zionist, but if my son were not recognized as Jewish in Israel, I could have no further connection with Israel. I'm sure there are hundreds of thousands of jews in the Diaspora with situations similar to mine. If Israel is looking for a way to drive a permanent wedge between herself and the Diaspora, she's certainly found the right method.
Remember when he lied to his wife, his cabinet and the entire Israeli population. What do you and the Palestinians expect?
I feel this passing this bill as stated in the article above does a major dis-service to the jewish community at large. This is a step backwards, not a forward-looking strategy.
Israel is increasingly demonstrating a zealotry that that defies rational thought.
the ultra orthodoxs are manupulating knesset. by doing so we risk to loose honest people who love israel and all that judaism represents without beiing confined in the closet of fanatism. all religions , all ideas try to gain power. we do all we can to send away our young generation only because they follow their heart.
*Phew*(wipes forehead) then it's a good thing the bill is about all Orthodox Rabbis, not only the "ultra orthodoxs". You know, the non-fanatic everyday guys on the street? Of course I'm sure you caught that detail... right?
It is sad that Likud and Netanyahu are letting down the American Jewish community just after he had a successful trip to the U.S.and is supported by the American Jewish Diaspora. I guess the future in Israel, ironically, belongs to those gentiles from Russia who followed their spouses to Israel, and who will now be dictating the agenda. Well, that's politics.
Much of the west, for the last 500 years, has been trying to cast off the religious yoke and enslavement of humanity. Religion offers "pie in the sky" in exchange for the surrender of personal freedom and autonomy. Only children need "training wheels" for life. Adults have enough enough balance to throw out the training wheels that "religious authorities" represent. In the west, the tipping point has allowed secularism to trump ancient superstitions. Who needs anyone's stamp of approval on who we love and who we marry? Why should Israelis or any human being for that matter give away their personal power to any pious charlatan? As an intermarried U.S. Jew I embrace being an adult who does not need a surrogate "parent" as represented by the clergy....To all paid professional busybodies known as Rabbis, Priests, Imams, and Ministers, I say good riddance!
Atheists tend to be slaves to their impulses, their passions, even their whims. Even often to this or that human organization. Religion sets an objective reference point for conduct and values. Otherwise it's all relative, choosing to follow the cocaine-addled dreams of Freud or the carbuncle-crazed fantasies of Marx, or any other speculative mind. And religion is required for human rights. That's why atheist, oppressive regimes have always opposed it -- USSR, E. Germany, N. Korea, China. Without religion people can follow the ideas of Peter Singer and PETA, claiming that an ape or a pig has equal rights to a human. That's the path of eugenics, the "war against the weak." The next stage is oppressing different varieties of human. Not to say that apes ought to be tortured, or pigs eaten. But to say they have a _right_ not to be, to equate them with humans, is a path away from human equality. And to oppose this, religion. Some religious regimes, like Iran, are oppressive. All atheist regimes are. On its merits, the argument against religion, by Dawkins et al., is ignorant. Any physicist acknowledges the "anthropic" problem. Catholicism reconciled Darwin and their religion decades ago. Try reading seriously, instead of being a parrot.
Mike, Amen.
I advise you to try to read more carefully. I am not an atheist, nor do I advocate that particular "faith". Sprituality does not require an elaborate paid command & control hierarchy. On the chess board, the bishops are positioned next to the King and Queen, as "enforcers". Kings and Queens, (other than symbolic figureheads) have largely been retired to the "toy chest" of history. I feel its time to reconcile their "enforcers" with them. Me? I personally believe in G-d but put faith in no man to know more about my theological "hunch" than I do. The world's graveyards are filled with victims of the clergy's theological certainties and prejudices. Most clergy "root" for Romeo and Juliet's parents instead of the couple. Its time to retire these antiquated "enforcers" of separatism and the status quo. Try using your critical thinking abilities, instead of being a mynah bird. Mynahs are vastly more adept at mimicry,without comprehension, than even parrots.
The only reason that the American people may be threatened by Muslim Extremists, as opposed to Jewish Extremists, is because the U.S. is cooperating with the Jewish Extremists. Should the U.S. find its missing morality and its missing courage and confront the Israelis, the result will be, as it historically has been, acts of terror committed by Jewz against Americans. Should this happen, a line will be drawn on American soil with the Americans on one side and the Jewz on the other. What side will the so called, "American-Jewz", be on? Taken from the book: Jewz, Niggas, and Politicians.
To make Judaism so insular and exclusive is a death wish for the future of Israel. The Maccabbes are back! A short narcistic fundamentalist victory followed by disaster. And how ironic by those who lay slef righteous claims to knowing the Torah so well when example after example it is women and converts who save our people. This reveals the true source of the exclusive fundamentalist initiative as so very infantile and so little spirituality. In short; ungodly! Israelis and larger Jewry of the world, AWAKE and ACT before its too late.
In what way is it insular or exclusive? Anyone may join the religion if they convert properly, which requires a degree of dedication and commitment. If you're not as dedicated or committed to perform a true conversion, and prefer an ersatz one which you can do in 20 minutes going through a driveway in Vegas - well, why is that right? Why should such a person be considered a Jew? Why not say, "perform a proper conversion following 2,000+ year old codified laws and then we'll call you a Jew"?
The answer is in your final question. 2,000 year old codified laws! i respect and value the integrity of Orthodoxy to keep (every) codified law for the history, prosperity, and integrity of all Jews everywhere, (sadly, for most, at the cost of their own humanity, divinity, and consequential renown hypocrisy) but to do so at the exclusion of religious diversity which has been our tradition's strength for 2,000 yrs, consistent too of how haShem behaves in the Torah itself, then such Maccabean desires with lead to the same end. But fundamentalist victory or not, i join the growing opinion that this rise of extreme Orthodoxy is indicative of the dawn of a third (new) age for Judaism.
The Knesset Constitution and Law Committee seems hell-bent to turn Israel into a 21st century shtetl. Several years ago, under leadership of an orthodox MK, it attempted to put in place a constitution, a *present* to the Jewish state on its 60th birthday, with a dramatically watered-down Law of Return/Grandparent Clause. Two weeks ago a liberal Hebrew University law professor proposed on an on-line Israeli publication that automatic citizenship for Jewish olim be eliminated. Another proposal to eliminate the Law and its Clause. And now the same Constitution and Law Committee, this time under secular party leadership would provide the Chief Rabbinate veto over Who is a Jew. Because this is precisely the issue behind the conversion bill, whether or not all Jews, regardless of denomination or belief, are fit to live in Israel. Israel is at a crossroads: we of the Diaspora created a state for the Jews, all Jews, even Jews who don’t accept all Jews. Even Jews who oppose a state for the Jews. Israel can build on the universal and secular foundation we built into its creation, or can turn her back on the Diaspora. This bill is not just a matter of political expediency, but of national identity.
The laws remain the same and will always remain the same as stated in the Torah. If you want to make changes choose another religion.
Please explain where in the Torah the laws of conversion are detailed. Chapter and verse please.
That's the danger. That you beleive that Torah only speaks to you. I am an American Reform Jew and Torah speaks to me as well. It gives me the choice to make my own personal connection to God and that I have done very well. Let's see what kind of third world country Israel becomes if it insults the very people who have provided the money to keep you people going, Do it without the American Reform Community and may God be with you because we will not.
Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Palestine and Likud/yisrael beitenu in Israel. whats really scary is that extremists have control of Israeli nuclear weapons, a religious nut today has the power to trigger events that will cause a cataclysm. Imagine the thought of Islamists with nuclear weapons, this is the same thought the whole world is thinking about the current Israeli Government. Maybe Iran should be allowed nuclear weapons to counterbalance the other theocracy in the ME - Israel.
The PM may well be the CEO. However the board of directors overule him here in this instance. Never before, have we seen such blatant disregard for those who have supported Israel in its most difficult moments in the last 62 years. Maybe, its time to call for a no confidence vote and justify what many feel. Good day.
rest of the of the world only but to his own people too .. what a breed !!!!! Who did this guy get elected ?? Oh the rest of the leaders in the middle east are no better then him by the way !!!! they all deserve each other .....
Its funny that such a bill comes from a member of Israel Beitenu, as many of his own colleagues immigrated from Russia and underwent conversions. If the converisons are judged by the conduct, it means that the conversion of any female party member who does not wear kissui rosh should be revoked.
and his being Jewish can not be forfeited.Therefore a person with a genuine desire to be integrated into the Jewish community,especially through marriage should be helped and encouraged not hindered.In that way we keep a Jew and 'gain another AND THEIR CHILDREN,rather than losing one forever AND THEIR CHILDREN. As a secular Jew even more important should be the happiness and future of those wishing to marry.We are not recruiting,just helping those who genuinely wish to belong.Ritual does not define a person as a Jew.It is what is in his/her heart that should matter. But the trouble is that those wielding the final power, live in their own little bubble,have no contact with the'real world' and seemingly dont have a heart.at all.They are so out of touch with the realities of today's world that there can be little hope of any sensitive response from them.Being Jewish is a way of family orientated living,which may or may not be genetic.But if born Jews want to switch on a light on Shabbat,are the religious police coming to excommunicate them.NO? Well in that case there should be more compassion for those who wish to join us.Building a fence around the law is taken too far by power hungry self serving clergy who are ,in fact,hindering the future of 'Jewishness'..but I'm afraid they will never be able to recognise this.
Everyone has their own definition of what is Jewish. For the non-orthodox, it is a social club; all are welcome, no requirements. However when non-Jews are given Jewish identity papers, that is a stumbling block for Jews that can end up marrying these gentiles having thought they were Jewish. People need to know whether a person is halachically Jewish or not. People have a right to know. Diguising a non-Jew as Jewish is a crime of impersonation. It is deceit. Feel free to consider your "converts" Jewish in your hearts, but do not issue them Jewish identity papers - that's simply criminal.
and still there are those who deny israel is a racist state
...and some people who deny basic reasoning. The commenter you describe is racist is discussing religious law, not legal law of Israel. Just like a Muslim can't marry a non-Muslim under the laws of Islam, and certain Christians (such as Catholics) won't marry non-Christians - these are religious marriages, not civil ones. So it can be a religious issue if someone claims to be Jewish, is viewed legally as Jewish, but under Jewish religious law is in fact not Jewish. In what way would that justify calling Israel racist?
From herschlag's post: "However when non-Jews are given Jewish identity papers, that is a stumbling block for Jews that can end up marrying these gentiles having thought they were Jewish." Purely a religious matter? C'mon. And I note the subtext of contempt in the "these gentiles" phrase. Reminds me of "i did not have relations with that woman" Face it, a great many orthodoz jews (and others) believe they are superior to goyim, and not just religiously
Correction: Muslim men may marry "people of the book" and it in the future muslim women may be able to do so as well. The only requirement for becoming muslim is saying the Shahada before witnesses. Out of curiosity, why marry someone based on an identity card? If I am going to marry someone and religion matters to me, wouldn't I make inquiries as to that person's faith and religious observation? I think it's the idea that some jews have a right to screen those they don't approve of through a formal process such as identity papers that strikes some as racist.
One should hope this Bill does not pass. If it does it will be a small victory for the orthodox in Israel but with world sentiment a major miltary attack on Israel would not be surprising. Mahal states you msut be recognized as a Jew. How will all the Jews from the disaspora come to ISrael's aid if this bill is passed to refuse to recognise them as Jews in Israel. This indeed will be a dilema. Your victory, if this bill passes, will be a great loss to Israel. Battles or won but Wars are lost. to lose the Jews of the diaspora may seem a victory to the orthodox but it will be a great loss for Israel and for Jews in the diaspora. The decision is in the hands of the voting Israeli's. That passing of that bill can be stopped!
ROFLMAO
Just keeping funding your Israel even though they think your really not jewsih enough.
I resent very much the hold that Orthodoxy has on so much of life in Israel, and the constant effort to exclude progressive Jews from having any part in anything. I resent the fact that almost everybody, including progressive Jews, allow someone else to define what is religious observance. I also agree, however, with LocalKnowledge - if you want to criticize our government, come live here!
How about we just stop sending money to support you.
Personally I think if Israel truly wants to keep its jewish identity the there must be an orthodox monopoly on conversion. These US Jews though do not live in Israel, it's a domestic matter and they didn't elect Netanyahu or anybody else in Israeli politics. Their help and donations are much appreciated but they must accept some matters are internal Israeli politics which has no impact on the US Jews. We should though be more careful over who we let emigrate to Israela. We were taken for fools when hundreds of thousands non jewishs Russians moved here after communism and the government is still very lax on who moves here and then there is the illegal immigrants who we need to deport bfore their numbers start to grow and get out of hand and dilute the Jewish population further.
We'll dismantle AIPAC, and divert the hundreds of millions of dollars donated each year by American Jews to Israeli causes back into our own communities, to support our elderly, our poor, our day schools. Israel, go ahead and recreate the ghettos and shtetls. If you don't accept us, why should we support you?
We should also stop sending money and promising to protect you from Arabs.
Great! Stop asking us for money. We have better places to put it than Israel.
Jewish racists are the same as other racists. "diluting the Jewish population" indeed.
we have to many leeches like the haredi here. i am masorti and wear a kippah, the shabbat, kosher, etc... except these unemployed leeches on our society consider me reformed. disgusting but the sad reality in israel. all israelis need to vote.... and break the religious hold on our politcal system...
Looks as if the Israeli government,s penchant for not keeping it,s pronises is suffering trickle down disease.
thats my prediction and i'm sticking to it, that arabs just have to sit back and wait.
The Arabs especially Hamas & the party of god to the north keep Israel united as do ignoamus's like yourself. By the way hows the crime rate going in Lakemba? Planning on 70 virgins soon Viper?
Why must jews in Israel leave to get married in Cypress. Probably 50 percent of the Jews in USA are not considered Jewish by the current law in Israel. How are American Jews offended by stopping this control by the PM. I am not.
What right does reform Jewry have in conversion decisions. the name Reform says it all. Our conversion laws are based on thousands of years of practice and tradition that should not be broken!!!!!!!
Sorry gents, when you live in Israel you may affect the political process, until then you have no right to be upset. I too object but due to the force of Democracy I lost, so we accept and try to become the mojority in the next election to repeal the law. BUT if you want to affect Israel laws and policy, then by all means come LIVE here first... (pleanty of room you know)
Try surviving without their lobbying and the resultant American support As long as we rnt one ppl we are in danger
I thought god gave Israel to the jews not the to the israelis. And since this is a religious matter that affect jews all over the world all should have a saying.
to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob's other name in the Bible is Israel.
I would come live in Israel, but why would I want to since no one would consider me Jewish?
Q: What do you call a "Jew" whose good enough to donate cash to Israel and to defend Israel's policies but is not good enough to be considered a real "Jew" in Israel? A: Friar
By every means the current conversion policy needs to be reformed and restructured for many reasons. Reform Judaism is too lax and unstructured to determine conversion. A reform rabbi can convert others even if he himself was recently converted and himself was converted by someone who was recently converted and has no obligation to observe any element of Judaism, in fact I have to my dismay seen Reform and "conservative" Rabbis eat shrimp at Bar Mitzvahs and Weddings while wearing talit and kippah. seven day Adventist have more right to claim they are Jews and convert than reform Jews for at least they keep kosher and observe the sabbath, so what does that say about the Jewishness of Refrom Judiam if they are Out Jewed by Protestant Christians?
All Sabra's keep Kosher Laws - I think not; the world has a double standard when it comes to Israel why does is have a double standard exist when it comes to Jews in Israels & Jews in the disaspora?
"American communities outraged, claiming PM broke personal promise...." Bzzzt! There's your error, right there; you thought that Bibi's word meant something *chortle*
Why does anyone listen to these orthodox fanatics? They are a minority and they are unreasonable and they are bossy and they are obnoxious and they love to mix into other peoples' business. So why do you do it? For the money. They shovel copious amounts of cash into Israeli coffers. You must wean yourself off this money. To you it's like a drug. If they want to give you money great but with no preconditions or conditions. No quid pro quo. You'll do what's best for Israel. And if that means recognizing conversions of sincere people by rabbis other than those affiliated with these orthodox fanatics so be it! When the dust settles on this issue it'll probably turn out to be a net gain because you did the right thing.
I have already stopped all funding and lobbying for the Govt of Israel this year after 40 years of supporting and visiting. I will never tolerate having someone tell me I am not the RIGHT kind of Jew. If Israel doesnt like Reform Jews..they can try surviving without me...
This government has done nothing but antagonize and offend everyone in the world. Now they want to focus on dividing the Jewish people with this stupid legislation. It is time for Israel to have a written constitution that protects the civil liberties of all people. As a conservative Jew living in the United States, I will not spend another dollar on Israel if this bill passes.
Once upon a time Israel saw American Jews as a life-line, a godsend, an font of wealth and support. Now Israelis seem to view American Jews with an arrogant distain shaded with contempt. The two major Jewish populations of the world, America's 6.5 million Jews, and Israel's 5.6 million spin ever further apart driven by Israel's belief that it may treat America's Jews with contempt while retaining their favor.
when will US jews learn that, while israel happily takes their money, they don't care at all about their opinions? they're allowing themselves to be played for fools.
that's exactly how Israel's gentile friends feel, too. Who says Israel does not promote mutual understanding between Jews and non-Jews in the diaspora?
Reform and Conservative leaders represent congregations with no interest in Judaism. They have dwindling communities and are holding on by threads. Most Jews who are or were Conservative or Reform are just basically secular and have no interst in Jewish life, aside from an occasional bar or bar mitzvah. Orthodoxy must prevail on issues of conversion. We can't allow gentiles to be called Jews by lax conversion standards.
If it weren't for Reform and Conservative (and Reconstructionist, Renewal and Humanist Judaism) there would be NO Jews, except for the fundamentalist, obscurantist orthodox. Feh!
Orthodox Judaism is dividing the Jewish people and putting the existance of Israel on the line. I will no longer support any Orthodox cause, anywhere. Orthoxy is no longer Judaism. Is is a fanatic cult that is no better than Wahabi Islam
Then again, "royally pi***d off" would have lacked "gravitas," wouldn't it?
This does not pass a basic logic test, because it implies that the rabbinate is infallible.
As long as there are many ways to choose among conversion courts, the number of conversions will increase. This is necessary in today's Israel, where there are many non-Jewish (halkhically) citizens, mostly former Russians, who want to integrate into Israeli Jewish society but prevented from doing so by overzealous rabbis. For example, a family that does not follow orthodox lifestyle is not converted nowadays, even though the majority of Jewish Israelis are like that. Better to rely on more liberal orthodox rabbi who will agree to convert, because the mere living in Israel is an indication of sincere desire to join the Jewish people. I also fail to see the merit in the Conservative and Reform objection. Their situation will not be affected.