Yesh Atid's Dov Lipman to relinquish U.S. citizenship to serve in Knesset

A very difficult thing to do. It must be with a very heavy heart and a very bittersweet moment to do such a thing. Being an American oleh it must be a super emotional time for him. I give him much kovod for being able to do this in order to serve the Israeli public!

He won't be allowed to keep his passport after he gives up citizenship. Nor will they ever allow him to have it back. He cannot fight it in court because he is going to the Embassy in Jerusalem and abandoning being American. Once he leaves the Knesset he probably will not be allowed to visit either as a punishment for giving up American citizenship. I know its hard to believe religious olim love Israel so much they give up being Americans when secular Israelis will do anything to abandon Israel and move to America.

Salaam/Shalom

Actually: In 1987, a Federal district court upheld the citizenship of a U.S. citizen serving as a member of a foreign legislative body, despite certain statements in the record indicating a transfer of allegiance. The court ruled that Rabbi Kahane’s formal declaration to retain citizenship made simultaneously with the expatriating act preserved his citizenship. (See Kahane v. Schultz, 653 F. Supp. 1486 (1987).)

He apparently immigrated from California as a child