Palestinians may soon have to swear loyalty to 'Jewish' state
The cabinet is expected to approve measures on Sunday that would make it harder for Palestinians to acquire permanent residency or citizenship in Israel.
By Dana Weiler-Polak and Jonathan Lis Tags: Israel news PalestinianThe cabinet is expected to approve a series of measures on Sunday that would make it harder for Palestinians to acquire permanent residency or citizenship in Israel. The most notable would require Palestinians to declare their loyalty to "a Jewish and democratic state" before being granted Israeli citizenship.
The measures will primarily affect Palestinian men and women who marry Israeli citizens and then seek citizenship on the basis of family reunification.
Adalah - the Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel yesterday protested the proposed wording of the loyalty declaration. In a written statement, the group said "it views the conditioning of entry into Israel on a declaration of loyalty to a Jewish and democratic state, and of respect for the laws of the state, very gravely, because it requires all non-Jews to identify with Zionism and imposes a political ideology and loyalty to the principles of Judaism and Zionism."
The other restrictions to be imposed on Palestinians wishing to gain residency or citizenship are not actually new; they are part of a law enacted in 2005, originally for one year, that has since been renewed annually. On Sunday, however, the cabinet is expected to approve its extension for yet another year.
One restriction in that law bars Palestinians married to Israelis from joining their families here before the Interior Ministry agrees to their right to live in Israel. The law also denies residency rights to any foreign spouse or his children if he is married to other women in addition to his Israeli wife.
Finally, it requires Palestinians who seek citizenship to provide financial guarantees and prove that they have a home in Israel.
The explanatory notes accompanying the proposed restrictions state that their purpose is to make it harder for Palestinian terrorist groups to recruit Palestinians who have acquired Israeli citizenship to carry out attacks.
"An examination of the security reality since the outbreak of armed confrontation between Israel and the Palestinians revealed growing involvement by Palestinians who took advantage of their status in Israel, received on the basis of their family reunification process with Israelis, to become involved in terrorism and abet suicide bombing attacks," the notes said.
"The Israeli identity cards granted to [these] Palestinians provided them with freedom of movement between Israel and the [Palestinian] Authority and thus made them into the terrorist organizations' preferred population for carrying out hostile actions in general and inside Israel in particular."
A separate section of the proposed regulations deals with asylum seekers, and would require them to file their asylum applications within a year of entering Israel. Until now, an asylum seeker could file his application at any time. The main purpose of this change is to prevent legal foreign workers from filing asylum applications after their work visas expire, thereby gaining additional time here.
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PM Benjamin Netanyahu convenes the weekly cabinet meeting in his Jerusalem office on Sunday May 23, 2010. |
| Photo by: AP |
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Most civilized countries have this law and it is obeyed. Why should Israel be any different. It is about time this law was passed. If the Palistinians don't accept this law they are free to leave Israel.
only a clearcut jewish majority will make it. As a matter of fact every candidate for citizenship ( and may be even every citizen) should be required to follow this act of allegiance.
Guys, Lets not confuse "The Jewish People" those with a common language, history, culture, future, and identity with belief in Judaism as a religion. I think it makes a difference here.
Their duplicitous actions and disregard for ehir ISraeli citizenship has brought us to where we are today. As usual the arabs who are the troublemakers are the ones crying the loudest. Clearly they do not want to be held responsible for their actions. Either swear allegiance or get out. Simple no?!! No sympathy for teh arabs or palis. Their actions brought on this reaction by the state.
The Answer is: 1)It has the BEST free medical service in the world.(I should know that', as I lived the last 20 years in the UK with its notorious NHS) 2)It offers an excellent FREE, national insurance support system to unemployed, large families, kids, single mothers,widows, etc. 3)It offers free schooling up to the age of 18 and for those who have done national service, free university education too 4)It IS a FREE country (unlike ANY OTHER country in the ME). FACT= you all are reading and writing in an Israeli newspaper!!
That depends on whether the dominat ethnic group grants liberal and equal rights to ALL citizens and minorities. That has nothing to be with acceptance to be loyal to a nation state. US demands loyalty to its constitution ( which is a liberal constitution and maybe non liberal have to accept it) Nation states on the other hand have the right to demand loyalty to the dominant nation within the state, conditioned to the fact that liberal rights are granted to all. Liberal nationalism.
That depends on whether the country grants liberla rights to ALL citizens. Arabas have and should have e
The result will be many people who will make this oath under false consciousness which will mean that their resentments towards the State of Israel will be further repressed, which will mean that their angers will seethe more and more inside of them, until they explode with disasterous results.
Democratic. Democracy only requires of its citizens to follow the law, the rest is persecution.
attention #63. you are wrong. One cannot be a citizen of Saudi Arabia unless one is muslim. Make some trivial effort to learn something about the muslim world before you reflexively spit on israel. Israel was set up by the UN in 1947 as a'Jewish State' ... it is there in Resolution 181. Read it on google. Don't weep for the Palestinians they will all gain Jordanian passports and the king will be happy to provide them.
If the Palestinians have to pledge loyalty then also get the Haredim to pledge loyalty to Israel. Actually anyone living in Israel should pledge loyalty.
If a person, any person, was born in Israel, he/she should be entitled to citizenship and right of residence. Period. Israel should be the last place to demand a loyalty test. Would it accept that other nations treat Jewish people the same way ?
If a person, any person, was born in Israel, he/she should be entitled to citizenship and right of residence. Period. Israel should be the last place to demand a loyalty test. Would it accept that other nations treat Jewish people the same way ?
Is he going to be transported to the East for resettlement? Or are you going to wear a badge? I don't know a Crescent moon with the word Arab on it?
If a Palestinian refuses to swear loyalty to the occupying power does a concentration camp await where he will be re-educated? Israel is turning into a facist state.
It's as if all people applying for American citizenship were asked to swear loyalty to protestantism. Israelis, wake up: religious states are a thing of the Middle-Ages. Time to enter modernity!
I wish I could swear loyalty to my country (The Netherlands......I was born in Iraq)
Firstly unless the parents are citizens then the children do not become citizens. If you have an Israeli couple who have a baby whilst they are in the US working or on vacation their child does not get given American citizenship because it was born on their territory. With Judea & Samaria Israel has not formerly annexed it and its not a palestinian state so another reason whilst the children of a palestinian couple do not get citizenship. In the Golan the Druze are permitted to request citizenship because legally the Golan is part of Israel as it was annexed and Druze have mostly always been loyal to Israel whilst the palestinians have been our enemies and nobody wants to give citizenship to an enemy. The reason that a jew born in Brooklyn has the right to move to Israel and be granted citizenship whilst the arab is not is simple ... as an independent state Israel is allowed to chose its immigration policies and as Israel was officially a jewish state and created to be a refuge to all jews who wanted to come here so the immigration policy says if your jewish your entitled to move to Israel no matter where you live but if your not jewish doesn't matter if you live just next door you have no automatic entitlement to Israelis citizenship. You might not think its fair but it is Israels right as an independent state to make policies like this.
... nobody can be surprised at the Palestinian refusal to recognise Israel as a Jewish State.
Whem my wife became British, she had to make a similar declaration.
Zionism is the Jewish movement to return to the Promised land. Contrary to the Dunbar Declaration, Zionism has nothing to do with racism, but rather with love, care and dedication to the land overflowing with Milk and honey, Honey means here, that the land will return love and care to those that love it and care for it. The oath of loyalty to Israel IMO includes no objection to Zionism in the meaning of love, objections to racism are allowed, but hostility to Jews, would be the reason to not to want to live in israel, nor to mary a Jew.
Zionism is based on racism Judaism is based on love
Oaths of loyalty simply mean you will be loyal to the state in and in whatever it has chosen its national identity to be. In this case Israel has chosen its identity should be a jewish state and it wants for people to swear loyalty to the country and accept the national identity. Its not something that a non jew would be unable to accept because we are not asking them to swear loyalty to jews or to all convert to judaism just accept Israel is a jewish state and I will be loyal to the state.
I can already hear accusations of antisemitism if Israelis would immigrate to the State were asked to swear allegiance to protestantism. Israeli is a nationality, NOT a religion.
But not an oath of religion. By the way, Zionist forever...you live where? Brooklyn? Monsey? Stolen Palestinian land?
"Oaths of loyalty simply mean you will be loyal to the state in and in whatever it has chosen its national identity to be" No, the oaths are to the law, or to the embodiment of those laws (e.g. to a Constitution). Yours is a pledge to stiffle debate, and to still any competing voice about what form the state should be. I'll note you hold the same view regarding political parties i.e. any member of a political party that disagrees with that party's current policy MUST leave that party and start their own. In that you view is absolutist, and if nothing else that makes you forever a zionist.
I think Israel should be a State "of" Jews...meaning, Jews are welcome here in times of crisis worldwide. Jews make up a majority (sort of) at present. Jewish language and culture is very prevalent. There are historical and religious connections that make this relevant. That is it though. There should not be this State FOR Jews, where any Jew can come and Palestinians are excluded - where institutions are all Jewish and the purpose of the state is a religion/ethnicity. To run a Democratic state, you need to make the state institution primary, and the racist/ethnicity of citizens secondary. To me, a State OF Jews seems fine, but then you wouldn't need to pledge loyalty to that, the Jewish aspect is but a prominent feature, which should be supported, but it should not be the sine qua non of the state.
the situation you would like to see is commonly referred to as the "destruction of Israel"
The Balfour Declaration, the League of Nations Mandate and the British mandatory govt were there to renew the Jewish homeland or a Jewish state. There are more than 50 Muslim states [not many really democratic] and many broadly Christian states [often democratic] so why deny the possibility of a Jewish and democratic state? Jews throughout history have been both a faith and a 'nationality' in Exile. The Israeli unwritten constitution is based on the British Constitution which has H M the Queen as both head of state and supreme governor of the 'established' Church of England. Certain bishops sit in the House of Lords by right and the govt foots the bills for many C of E schools. Judaism is an intrinsic part of Israel's history and identity.
then there will be no compulsion to swear an oath of loyalty then.
This is the equivalent of demanding that new Marylanders swear undying Loyalty to the Pope to become citizens of Maryland. Thank God the US has a Constitution. How about requiring that all Californians swear loyalty to the Hispanic and Catholic and Democratic nature of the State? Or if becoming a Utahan, swearing to wear magic underwear?
Loyalty can be won, it can't be forced. The people who will vote for this bill know that very well: Its only real purpose is to humiliate you. The world is watching and sees how ugly they are.
there is no such thing as a "jewish state".in fact,there is no "judaism" except as a term of convenience.like "christianity","islam","theology","philosophy","hinduism","history",etc. these terms cover an infinite amount of varied,often contradictory terms and concepts.if anything,this bill is anti "jewish"-hillel the elder defined the torah's essence as not subjecting another to what you yourself dislike.("golden rule"-universal).later sages have decreed:in israel the law/constitution,is according to (the school of) hillel.(in distinction to that of the pedantic shamai).hillel,incidentally,saved the life of a gentile,in contravention of the sabbath laws,of the explicit laws in the bible(rather than rabbinical law).pairs like hillel and shamai,of opposing views,are numerous in hebrew law.allah'maak.
This new law has come about exactly because people pretended to agree with such laws. It also came about because of teh Arab ISraelis siding with teh enemies of ISrael These ingrates want all teh democracy ISrael can give tehm, all teh benefits tehy can acquire, but they then sproceed at every opportunity to stick a sharp stik in teh states eye. Well now teh state is reacting to their bad behaviour. Frankly if you want to stay in ISrael, become a citizen, embrace teh culture live peacefully. If on teh other hand you want to be a trouble maker, the state of ISrael invites you to leave and go back to whatever shit hole you came from. Play nice or leave. Nothing being asked here that most other countries dont already do. Why teh fuss..oh yeah its ISrael
I would love to see all current holders of Israel citizenship do it. It will be like baptism. Confirm your loyalty to democratic community of Israel or get out of it. Jew , Muslim or atheist. Love it or leave it
Israel is a democratic country and if you don't agree with me then you will be deported. Did you read your talkback before you posted?
Why not to a "Democratic" and "Secular" Israel. People would swear over the constitutional law.
The reason why the law doesn't define Israel as a Democratic and secular Israel is because Israel has always defined itself as a Jewish and democratic state its just that its only now the oath of loyalty demands that people taking it must swear loyalty to Israel based on how it defines itself.
Jews always claim that because all its neighbours are purely arab countries, israel should be purely jewish. Modern societies based on western standards are multi cultural countries. Separation of role state and role church. Indeed most arab countries oldfashioned and repressive but should therefore israel be the same? At least it confirms that israel is far from a modern western democracy. Israel is not better as its neighbours. I thought we could have made a change.
Jews always claim that because all its neighbours are purely arab countries, israel should be purely jewish. Modern societies based on western standards are multi cultural countries. Separation of role state and role church. Indeed most arab countries oldfashioned and repressive but should therefore israel be the same? At least it confirms that israel is far from a modern western democracy. Israel is not better as its neighbours. I thought we could have made a change.
THEY ARE A BUNCH OF INTERNATIONAL RACISTS AND NOT JEWS.
All people should be forced to swear allegiance to their state as the preserve of whatever the dominant religious/ethnic group is. Can anyone imagine any other nation in the world seriously proposing a similar requirement? Saudi Arabia, I suppose. Maybe Iran.
In Apartheid S. Africa, citizens could vote. However, whether you were a citizen or not was determined by race/ethnicity. In the greater Israel area, if you are a Jew born in W. Bank, E. Jerusalem, Golan Heights, you are automatically a citizen of Israel. If you are Arab, you are not. In fact, if you are a Jew born and lived all your life in Brooklyn, you have more rights to Israeli Citizenship than if you are a Pal born in W. Bank or E. Jerusalem. So, was Apartheid S. Africa a democracy? Is Israel a democracy?
The Palestinians rejected citizenship when offered to them. Oops.
democrathy, but strangely enough only for it´s citizens. Pals in occupied territories are until a peace agreement is signed persons without a nationallity, they have been Turkish, British and Jordanian citizens historically. In Jordan no jews will be able to get citizenship. this will prabably also go for Palestine. On this you probably have no objections!
Yes, it tries to be in a neighborhood of fanatics. If your minority is aligned with your enemy a necessity is created to ensure that this minority is giving back lolyality to the nation who gives them first class medical treatment, allows them all sorts of freedoms, etc. and yet this minority does everything to undermine the hand that feeds them. Yes I would say that there is a need for a loyality check. Otherwise, why live in Israel?
by your definition, Estonia, which denies automatic citizenship to non-Latvians and non-Estonians who immigrated during the soviet era, is also an apartheid state. there are many more examples, but let's just put things into proportion before jumping on israel
Pals are not Israelis and if the want to be such they have to be loyal. All new emigrants to Israel receive help but they also have obligations (e.g. IDF service). So, please shut up!
Nice group of people you have joined.
does not require beeing lojal to the spanish state. You may be loyal to a future kalifate or to the basc revolution, right? Not long ago jews and muslims could not live in your paradise. And would the jewish state not be surrounded by a threatening demografy they to would be as damn liberal as you kastilianos!
Is none exsistant, and rightfully, should not be expected. It does not work here in the U S, so why would it work else-where. These people will always be Israel's enemy and should be treated so.
Non-Americans wanting American citizenship have to comply with specific criteria before being granted citizneship - including an oath of loyalty to the country. What is different in demanding that a group of people, should be expected to swear an oath of loyalty , despite of the fact that they have publically declared their dedication to the demise of Israel
Care to show a source which says that all non-Jewish citizens of Israel have declared that they are dedicated to the demise of Israel? No? Then stop spreading that BS. Other than that you need to read one of the ten or so posts which explain to the other ignorant people the difference between swearing loyalty to a state of which you are a citizen and swearing loyalty to a religious entity of which you are not a member.
To become American the oath is to the Constitution and not to any specific ethnic or religious faction. If you're not Muslim would you swear to uphold Sharia Law? Should Jews swear to uphold the Catholicism of Maryland? and undying loyalty to the Pope?
The Shas alte kampfer talked in the past of the national community (Volksgemeinschaft), now we’re moving towards ‘standardisation of the community’ (‘we’re all [orthodox] Jews in a Jewish state’) (Gleichschaltung), next thing – on 15 September 2010? – Avi and his cronies will pass the ‘Law for the Protection of Jewish Blood and Jewish Honour’.
Great idea, make Arabs swear loyalty to Zionism...the ideology that has sent millions of them to live as refugees scattered around the Middle East and has kept them living under 40+ years of occupation with no end in sight. Brilliant idea.
Who do you think you are fooling. Even Ahmedinejad didn't do that.
...Bitter complaints have come in from countless places citing the provocative behavior of Arabs … a certain amount of [conspiratorial] planning was involved … [To prevent] vigorous defensive action by the [Jewish] people, we have no choice but to contain the problem through legislative measures … it may be possible, through a definitive secular solution, to create a basis on which the Jewish people can have a tolerable relationship with the Arabs. ... This law is an attempt to find a legislative solution … if this attempts fails, it will be necessary to transfer [the Arab problem] ...
a good choice of speech, it is by a certain Mr A Hitler- Nuremberg 15 September 1935. Just replace Arab with Jew and Jew with German and we see how we, the formerly oppressed, have become the oppressors. G-d may show his mercy to us.
How can you justify giving citizenship to an individual arab or jew who refuses to swear loyalty to the state. Unless you see it as some kind of right to be disloyal then why should you be given citizenship. citizenship comes with various rights including the right to vote and have influence in who will be running the country. This is something that cannot simply be dispensed with no strings attached. The oath means the arabs accept Israel is a jewish state and swear loyalty to it. United States has pledge of allegiance that they recite and nobody complains why they recite it Nobody should complain in Israel either - but if they do and simply cannot pledge allegiance to the State of Israel then the pay off is get out where you can pledge.... simple as that
Israel is a JEWISH state and wants to be recognized as such. Its even a good thing for peacemaking because all arabs are going to have to accept Israel is a jewish state. The arabs who already live here who don't accept the idea of Israel being a jewish if the oath of loyalty says its jewish it makes things more real and will hopefully help the arabs accept reality. Citizenship is not granted automatically because you marry a citizen of a foreign state in countries like the US. my sister married an American she though was not entitled to American citizenship as standard so why should Israel be expected to grant citizenship as standard because an arab marries an Israeli. We already have situations where palestinians marry sympathetic Israelis to try get citizenship and later they divorce so there is nothing wring with the interior ministry having to give permission for them to live in Israel. Considering its illegal in this country to have more than 1 spouse then it seems pretty logical that they don't let the rest of them come and again its a situation thats wide open for abuse. An Israeli agrees to a marriage of convenience to somebody who already has more than 1 spouse then rather than having 1 individual entering the country we might have a whole clan, that would certainly be just right for terrorists wanting to set up a cell in Israel, forge some papers say we are all part the same family and they can all enter the country legally. Also I imagine the US and most if not all western European coutnries would also allow somebody to marry a member of their country and then allow the foreigner to bring over all the other wives and children. It would be you married a citizen of our country then you come in under certain conditions but we don't allow your extended family to enter. Demanding financial guarenteers and proof they have a home in Israel helps stops abuse and we don't have just anybody coming along saying I got a home. The bit about the asylum seekers its logical. This bill is logical, it makes sure everybody both in Israel and the palestinians understand the rules and its good for security and avoids abuse of the system ... its closing up loopholes. As unpopular as it might be at times but this government has enacted some very good & practical if not politically correct bits of legislation.
You said it all and very well. Thank you.
Nontheless, they were there before the creation of Israel. Their allegiance is to their land.
That Pals lived here before means nothing, Only who lives here now is what counts.
Take a look at the picture to the right of the header to this aritcle! The cabinet can waste its time adopting any measures it likes. Making things more difficult for Palestinians won't change things any more than demolishng theirs homes already have.
Israel will soon have to swear loyalty to the new global elite as well, the New World Order. Will the Kafir be a Jew ?
To be a citizen and an Israeli meens to have responcibilities, one of them is to participate in the deffence of the country. The arab citizen of Israel who doesn't want to do that has a choice of joining the future arab state in the part of Judea and Samaria and I hope Gasa. The same may apply to the jews who will stay in the parts of Judea and Samaria which will become the part of the future arab state, they too will need to become the Citizens of this state.
He can call up every last Arab Israeli of military age, and he can do that tomorrow. The LAW definitely says that he can do that, and BY LAW nobody who is called up is allowed to refuse to serve. Arabs don't serve in the IDF, sure, but not because they are exempt, nor because they refuse to be called up. It is because the law gives the Defence Minister the perogative not to choose to call them up, and every Defence Minister since the Year Dot has exercised that perogative. Don't blame the ARABS for the fact that they do not serve; blame BARAK, because he doesn't want 'em in his IDF......
Apartheid
You obviously do not know what the definition of apartheid is. Arabs are in the Israeli Knesset, they own homes in Israel, own businesses in Israel, have universities in Isarel etc. etc. You are merely showing your level of ignorance
Do you even know what that means.... honestly... lol
Arabs may have a presence in the Knesset, but if their representatives criticize the state they are stripped of the priviligues granted to other members of the Knesset. Representatives that did not act as the state dictated have been subjected to threats of imprisonment, loss of citizenship and similar reprisals. They are claimed to have committed treason for voicing the opinions of their constituents. Maybe there's a little bit of ignorance on your part as well?
I am quite sure you don't swear to christian democracy in USA
why don't you read "petty apartheid" in wikipedia, By the looks of it; it feels like apartheid, it smells like apartheid, it definitely tastes like one, but it must just Jewish Democracy.
The idea of a "Jewish state" where no one can agree who is a "Jew" and where the natives are not Jewish was dumb enough, then to demand loyalty to such a state because a guy from Moldova thinks it's a good idea is even dumber. I think before they ask Arabs to be loyal to the "Jewish state", demand Israeli Jews to only carry an Israeli passport and anyone with a passport from another nationality should be viewed as disloyal. The fact is, 99% of all Arabs with Israeli passports have only ONE passport, they are not going anywhere. It is mostly Jews who hold dual citizenship. You tell me who is more loyal, one who has dual citizenship or only one? I suggest Lieberman be asked to return his Russian passport before opening his big mouth!!
The israeli oppression of palestinian people has reached its maximum , thus the only way remaining for us is to resolve the so called palestinian authorities in the occupied territories and let the people confront directly with their opressors. A new situation will arise which will force the occupation power to be in direct confrontation with the whole world.
They said loyalty!!! Do you get it? Loyalty. This is still Israel. A leader must be loyal to his country, otherwise he is better of not being in the knesset. and please stop using the words "occupation power" it sounds primitive. Stop using "israeli apar
There's nothing Jewish about the state of Israel, per se. Yes, it currently has a Jewish majority if you don't count all the disenfranchised Palestinian refugees and their descendants. However, populations change and Jews may not always be the majority in Israel. So it's simply an exercise in hubris to attempt to make Palestinian subjects swear loyalty to the mirage of a Jewish state.
lets get 2 million pals signed up to day will out number the jews in a couple of months
your post speaks volumes of intellectuality it really fits the mentality of the Think Tank rag website that pretends to be one PS you shall never succeed to overrun Jews in Israel with your ideas never in your lifetime or your children's lifetime accept the fact that Jews and Israel are here to stay you get out
All roads in Israel are one-way roads.
israel has some real geniuses working hard to make it look stupid
but only after East Jerusalem is a Palestinian capital, and there is a solid peace agreement between the Pals and Israel.
sounds israel is over dreaming... would advice the so called israelis to pack and back home.
In the US no one is required to swear allegiance to one religion or another. If a state wants loyalty from its citizens it must first be loyal to them - no matter what their religion is. That is the way if works in the US, so remember that before attempting to draw comparisons.
this government shows nothing but contempt, it is vile and racist, only because they occupy a land thats not theirs, anything outside the 47 borders is null and void and all those jewish people in that land should be swearing alliagance to the pals.
Temporary solution to peace... why not... but can they really be sure a muslim to submit to jewish regulations.. Reverential fear to the one true God is a long term solution... this is not taught... it is a decision for Muslim to do that... Love of God above all else. If they do, they will not even think of hating the Jews.
In the US children raise their hand and say the pledge of allegiance and in other nations they do the same. Why is it so hard for Arab citizens of Israel to do so?
christians, moslems, non-zionist jews, zoroastrians, druze, samaritans, etc would be happy to swear to support the laws of Israel (as they should) but may not wish to swear allegiance to our G-d (and nor should they).
Would you believe some Arabs of Israel those who are less educated still hate Israel though they live in the land, nobody bothers them, they earn a good living, get benefits and health care treated like citizens of Israel and they are allowed to have a vote, yet... still not good enough they dream of a country that is backwards 100 years, so be it if thats the case pack your bags give up the freedom of movement and move to one of the 22 countries of the arabs lands or Jordan that is Palestine you know:))
They are citizens of Israel, not of a "Jewish state".
Palestinians are not new citizens...
They pledge for the USA, not for a Christian USA, nor a white USA. they simply pledge for the beautiful democratic USA.
there is a constitution that guarantees citizens their rights. Is there a constitution in Israel?
they pledge loyalty to the state, not to a religion. Americans do not pledge to the christian democratic country of the US. A democracy normally applies to equality and freedom of religion. To include religion in a loyalty oath is anti-democratic.
Children do not raise their hand and swear allegiance to the United States as a White, Christian nation.
Jews have lived in different lands all over the world & have sworn allegience to the respective country.Any citizen of Israel should swear allegience to the state of Israel or not recieve any benefits ,or leave to where they can be happier.
i don't need the religion bit. Why not swear to uphold the laws of Israel. The way it is drafted, if the nutters decide to demolish the Temple Mount and build the 3rd Temple, it'd be an offence for Israeli muslims to object, same for the christians if we decided to demolish the Church of the Nativity for yet another theme park
The issues are not about race or racism (talk about an over used and inappropriate term), but asking people to take an oath they should not be expected to take or even agree with, and an overly zealous right wing knesset. What will the Israeli Supreme Court respond?
The expression appears in the law, but is undefined! I don't believe anybody actually ever bothered to define it. There is a basic contradiction between being "Jewish" and "Democratic". Suppose the number of Arabs becomes larger than the number of Jews, would the state still remain Jewish? In what sense? So far, the Supreme Court has to grapple with the meaning whenever a case comes up. For example, by law a party or an individual cannot run for elections if they deny the nature of Israel as Jewish and Democratic. Do the Islamist Knesset members violate this? According to the Court, no. Had I been a Palestinian wishing to attain Israeli citizenship I would have agreed to pledge this meaningless pledge.
It is never, ever, ever invoked as "Democratic and Jewish". Always "Jewish and Democratic".
I noticed that "Democratic and Jewish" is invoked quite a bit. You should learn how to use a search engine before you demonstrate such an acute level of ignorance.
Remember, Logios was talking about the STATE definining itself as "Jewish and Democratic", so I would be very interested in any official declaration by the STATE of Israel that it is a "Democratic and Jewish" state. Show me the list, sunshine....
I've got a book that somebody wrote that I haven't read yet. I need to find it. I just skimmed through it before I bought it. Anyway, it was a book that someone wrote in order to deligitimize today's Israel by claiming that about 3000 years ago, the peoples of the lands of today's Syria, Israel, Jordan, and even some Egypt were all recognized as being the same People. Jewish basically. This guy, and I can't name him just now was saying that he based his book on a study of Herodotus who overlapped all the Peoples from Syria to Egypt together. So in other words the author has the opinion that all the peoples of Syria, Israel, Jordan, and Egypt are essentially one and the same. I just checked this out on a Wiki, and I guess accordingly, the boundaries changed with the histories of Josephus which made Palestine much smaller. Herodotus preceded Josephus by a few thousand years. I ofcourse would not use this info to deligitimize Israel as much as I would to emphasize unity between us, the Jewish People and Israel's neighbors. Maybe we can all be Jewish, including the Christians and the Muslims? If Abbas would want to call himself a Jew, I would have no problem with it. It just seems to me that religious people of all various nations and tribes have killed each other at times for reasons that are no good at all. Now if someone wants to tell me that I'm not Jewish because I don't keep Jewish Laws entirely or just as an excuse to kill me, then I'm going to have a problem with it. Hey! Doesn't the Pope wear one of our hats? Don't get yourselves in a tizzy over things that can just be worked out with a little paperwork and some education. Look. It's true the Gentile Europeans treated us like they were a bunch of maniacs and we were bugs. I know that. But this is 2010. The stuff we do and say today will affect what happens in the future. Whatever happens, let's do the right thing. We know how people are and how they will react to anything. Do the right thing. Let's make fun of Mel Gibson!
and as for WIKI, i thought your were a smart person, but here's the low down for ya all, wiki can be changed by anyone, so even false information can be entered, so be a good person and stop this trash please. now just because jews were coincidently around at the time of jesus christ, doesn't mean they had their own country for such a long period of time.
The question is if Israel needs them to the point she's willing to risk own security and the safety of its people?They won't change their anti-Israeli view,the only thing that will change is their loss of the Palestinian status that will be replaced by..... abracadabra....a new Israeli ARAB is born!
and I will be the first one to pledge an oath of allegiance to Israel where else will we live so well and be treated so well? the reason we are treated this well is we move with the flow of the country and not try to impose our outdated beliefs with bitterness Life is wonderful for Israeli Arabs in Israel who abide and respect the laws of the land Bless Israel
I hope this isn't representative of Israeli society as a whole and it just a passing phase of this right wing nut government. But it seems as if there is one rational left in Israel. I guess one all Palestinians are equal citizens they can change the laws. I hope Israeli remember they better be nice to the Palestininas so that they will be nice to the Jews when they are all Israelis
Why is it that African refugees all prefer to get into Israel than any Muslim state???? You had better look up the formula for changing the constitution before you spew of naively about changing laws. Yes, some laws could be changed (lawfully) but others that go to the Jewish & democratic nature of Israel cannot easily be lawfully changed. And it is those laws, including those that protect minorities, that Pals just can't stand (despite being used by them fo help them in their cause to eliminate Jews).
Anybody that acquires USA Citizenship swears allegiance to the USA ..."One Nation under G-d..."the least Israel should demand from anybody willing to live in the Country IS ALLEGIANCE
Shmuel,you're correct.I said the pledge every morning in school for 12 years...
It is not "allegiance to the Christian God", nor is it "allegiance to Christianity".
Demanding loyalty to Israel is one thing. Allegiance to a religion is something else. In the US you do not have to swear to a particular religion.
if it was US it would be pledge of allegiance to United States it is Israel the Jewish STATE of the JEWS so pledge is very understandable or get out and find to live elsewhere
... Israel is either a theocracy, or it is run by a bunch of ethnic bigots. Which one, Chafeeka?
Its about time. If they want to live there let them declare their allegiance..remember the dancing on rooftops when scuds reigned in Tel Aviv and the dancing in the streets on 9/11!!
Yes, I remember them. They were Israelis dancing in the streets in New Jersey. Dan Rather didn't have the guts to call them Israelis, so he referred to them as Middle Easterners.
Those were not Israelis for lack of proof and out of such blind hatred you pin it on Israelis I saw and millions of others saw the image of gaza passing candy and ulolaying in the streets where you participating by any chance in that group? I know the ISM was there too
This law is a good way to give Israel a bad name while making sure that only the most unprincipled Palestinians get in.
So, how many states require an oath of allegiance? I think you will find that more than half of the world's states require just that! But I do agree with your main point. Of course terrorists won't be detterred. That isn't the point of the law. Its a reminder that one belongs to and benefits from one's state and hence should be loyal. That too will be of little avail because most people, especially Muslims are tribal, and are loyal to their people, not their nations. The exception are nations where the tribe is the nation, as is the case for the majority of the population of Israel.
To claim that the objective of the law is to stop suicide bombers is beyond ridiculous. There haven't been any suicide bombings in Israel for years. You will keep using the same bogey man for a century. But the real reason is to prevent the Arab population of Israel from growing, and strive for Israel's "racial purity".
You can have a Jewish state, or a Democratic state, but you can't have both. Democracy is about equal justice for ALL. This law in its very wording is not democratic. It implies a distinction between one set of people to an other. A truly democratic state must separate church IE Religion from state. This is typical of the sort of right wing jingoism of this present government. The sooner we get rid of it the better. Before the walls of the third temple come crashing down upon us.
It just means that free elections are held. It doesn't have to have western values and laws.
Scandinavian nations have crosses on their flag and are declared to be Christian nations and are also democratic. I agree that in the case of the many Muslim nations there is not one that is democratic.
Israel, surrounded by a multitude of Arab Muslim states, is the only Jewish state in the world and the only democracy in the entire Middle East. It is the only state in the region where Red Cross is allowed to operate, where women have rights and those rights are upheld, where there are members of the government whose stated intent is to erradicate the citiznes from their state etc, etc,
"Scandinavian nations have crosses on their flag and are declared to be Christian nations and are also democratic." But do they require that their citizens pledge allegiance to Christianity, Chaim? Or do they simply demand that citizens pledge allegiance to the LAWS of that country?
Well, can't the state be Jewish in the sense that it will be a haven for all Jews? That does not exclude anyone.
it is like this in many countries US, Australia, that to get citizenship of the country of immigration they have to swear on loyalty oath, if they don't and caught laying they should be deported.
Most people understand this. Those that don't are unlikely to ever understand it.
People born in Australia are Australian citizens and those who immigrate are Australian residents who may, if they so choose, take out Australian citizenship. If they do, they swear to uphold Australian laws. They do not swear allegience to a particular religion or racial background. Don't use Australia to defend Isreali racism. We have our faults but welcome both Arabs and Jews.
we welcome them all, but israel thinks it's above anyone else law except for gods, they know very well god will never appear and make a liar out of them, becuase he doesn't exist.
Stop muddying the real issues. Nowhere does a citizen of Israel have to have an allegiance to the religion of Judasim. Only to the state of Israel.
"Only to the state of Israel." They have no trouble pledging allegiance to the "state of Israel", but they aren't being asked to do that. The pledge is to the JEWISH state of Israel i.e. to a state that is centred upon an ethnic group to which they do not - and can not - belong. It's like demanding that you must pledge allegiance to a club, even though the members of that club will always blackball your application to join.
Palestinians included. The US also demands loyalty oaths from anybody, naturalized or native born, who wants to hold public office, get a government job, or serve in the military. Nothing wrong with Israel demanding the same, except to clowns like Durson and the rest who think Israel does not have the same rights as other nations. Israel has the same right to be a Jewish State (which the UN authorized in 1948) as the Brits do to be an Anglican State, the Italians and Spanish to be a Catholic State. Now watch the idiotic responses this post gets.
May I assume you would be willing to swear allegiance to the US as a Christian nation?
so tell me, is that the reason jews have to passports? that way their not stuck? we all know what your up to, you might think we're stupid (as you) but we're wide awake.
Not to an ethnic "tribe", that's for sure. And not to the dominant religion. They swear loyalty to the Constitution of the United States of America. Maybe you dudes might like to think about drafting one of your own one day.....
Nothing wrong with asking citizens to swear allegiance to a state or country, such as USA or Israel. Problem is it becomes racist when you say Jewish State rather than Israel
'Christian United States of America', I think not. You merely swear to uphold the law
Jews are citizens of and swear allegiance to many countries with state religions (see my original post) The US did comport inself as a "Christian" nation before the 1964 Civil Rights Act clarified the equal rights of other religions. And we do have "separation of church and state" as our national purpose since the Pilgrims landed. So try to learn what America is all about.
It is a core founding belief of the US, at a time when most world nations had a state religion, and is a centerpiece of our Constitution, unique in the world. Some religions have a problem with this, e.g., Somali Muslim taxi drivers in Minnesota, who sued to be allowed to refuse customers with duty-free shop liquor bottles. They lost and were fired. You chose a poor example. Upholding the secular laws of the Jewish State of Israel does not infringe on existing guarantees of religious freedom. And note that American Jewish employers are required to give Christian employees vacation pay on Christmas; Christian employers are not required to pay Jewish workers the same on Yom Kippur. Muslims get holiday pay in Israel for their holidays - so maybe America has a few things to learn
Is the UK racist because Anglican church is their state religion? Is Italy racist because Catholic Church is the state religion? And what "race" are you possibly talking about?? Israel has the same right to be Jewish State as Saudi Arabia does to be Islamic State. Recall that the UN in 1948 explicitly created a "Jewish State" and an "Arab State". Is the UN racist? Is the "Arab" League racist?
In 1948 the UN did not create a Jewish State. The UN vote simply partitioned Palestine, which was under UN authority, into Jewish and Palestinian areas. Subsequently, the Jewish residents of Palestine, acting independantly of the UN, voted to create the State of Israel. Whether it was the partition or the vote to create the State of Israel which touched of the Arab-Israeli war has never been quite clear. It was, very likely, both. The war was quickly perceived to be a war between ideologies rather than nationalities. and has remained so ever since.
many people are non liberals and swear a liberal constitution. They cannot resist it, but have to do it. Newcomers in the Nethelrands are shown a DVD in which the country is exposed as a free sex country. In Britain you have to accept the queen as the head of the Anglican Church. there is freeodom of religiion but not equality of religion as Muslims. demand.
"Is the UK racist because Anglican church is their state religion?" You pledge allegiance to the Queen, not to Protestentism. "Is Italy racist because Catholic Church is the state religion?" You pledge allegiance to the laws of Italy, not to Catholicism. Nobody has a problem with Israel having a state religion. The problem is forcing one ethnic group to pledge allegiance to the monopolization of power by another ethnic group. And this needs stressing: the dominant ethnicity will NEVER the minority ethnicity to join their club i.e. a Protestent can become a Catholic (and vice versa) with hardly a care in the world. But I'd like to see a Palestinian convert to Judaism and then have that act recognized by the Rabbinate.
The public sphere of the country belongs to the dominand ethnic/cultural/ religious group. Indeed, the idea is forcing a minority to accept that the country's public sphere belongs to a specific cultural/ religious or ethnic group. Nothing wrong with that. Be the case that Quebecois, Basques, Flemmish Catalans will be in the future independent countries, and other ethnic minorities live in their territory, the later will have to pledge allegiance to a country whose public sphere maybe defined in contrast to their interests. Ask spanish living in Bilbao what does it look like. It is no problem at all. The only important thing is that the dominant ethnic group should grant liberal rights and in some cases group rights to minorities. Nothing else. Suns of those minorities will joing the national team and defend the colours of the dominant group which is not theirs. Nothing bad about it.
What democratic state should Palestinians swear allegiance to? Israel doesn't qualify as one.
Any state that allows all elements of its poplulation to have a representation in government, is democratic. The 'Palestinians' charter is typical of Arab 'democracy'
As if an Israeli Palestinian spy, or whatever would not lie if it was to his advantage. How stupid can one government be? This declaration will achieve anything but the further disenchantment of loyal Israeli Arabs with the increasingly paranoiac Natanyahu/Lieberman/Yshai corruption of the culture and society of State of Israel.
But I wonder which is worse, the Americans who enable them, the Saudis who encourage them. .
only YOU! misinformed and blind to the truth.
Right?
I'm afraid that YOU are the shameless and a rabbid anti-semite...Even the USA that's the most wel,coming Nation for LEGAL IMMIGRANTS,demads a pledge of Allegiance for anybody that wants to acquire Am,erican Citizenship...
How many Palestinians and Arabs have died compared to Israeli's during both the Lebanon war and the most recent assault on Gaza let alone UN staff e.g Lebanon. Ignorance and nationalism will be Israels down fall if it is not careful!!! If you think that the rest of the world is wrong and you are right than you will suffer the consequences sooner rather than later. The world will start to say "why are we allowing a population of 5 million to dictate and influence the security of the region and the broader world when they consider themselves to be all knowing and right"?
Question:Why is it that any one who questions Israels actions are labelled anti-semetic? Answer: Because the labeller obviously believes it is never wrong!
you have a problem with feelings Israel doesnt its vibrant and alive with life Lehayim!!!!! to Life Long Live Israel
Then they won't have to be coerced into any oaths.
It's the European zionists who should be leaving if they don't want to behave themselves.
Poor Mary you hvae been working so hard dedicating your life to ISM that you are losing it. Jews were called Palestinians long before the arabs "adopted" and coined it on themselves after say.. 1967 war that Israel Won which started by The neighbors. Jews always lived in Palestine as it was a vast region stretching from the Sea to Iraq dear Mary study your map and geography and go back to study 101 in history books the ISM has filled up your head with hot air
Sweetie learn first the history of the Middle East. Those who claim today to be Palestinians, came from the Arabian peninsula or from Syria, Iraq and Iran. The Jews simply created greener pastures here.. All the Arab towns in Israel and the West Bank bear witness with their names that they were first Jewish towns, excepting a very few.
To understand and maintain the personality of the state. As you'd expect from anyone else, especially in some European states where you have multi-cultural issues with the minority.
This state DEFINES its "personality" as being that of an ethno-religious group i.e. "the Jews". I have no problem with the regime demanding that a person pledge loyalty to the state's "Jewish personality" **provided** that doing so then confers "Jewishness" upon the "person" who is making that pledge. But when the regime demands that you pledge loyalty to an ethnic group to which you are eternally barred then I have to say that this isn't "citizenship" at all; certainly not as I understand it.
Pledge loyalty to the jewish public sphere. implies accepting the fact that the state is for the Jewish people and it responds to jewssh symbols. Non jewish citizens should enjoy liberal rights, equality ( which is still absent, and lots have to be done in order to improve it) and in some cases group cultural rights. Basically is should not be a problem with this arrangement. ARABS DONT ACCEPT BECAUSE THEY BASICALLY REJECT THE IDEA OF JEWISH SOVEREIGNTY IN THIS REGION.
Similar laws (citizenship to the spouse under conditions) exist in USA, Canada and other countries for many-many years. It took Israel over 60 years to catch up with other western democracies.
Who knew? I thought you had to swear allegience to the Constitution of the United States of America. Shows how little I know: I had no idea that the US Constitution enshrines the superiority of one ethnic group above all others....
You do understand that it's a Jewish state, right? What do you have against the Jewish character of that state? You don't complain about Islamic countries. You don't complain about Christian countries. You exclusively complain, quite often, about the ONLY Jewish country. Now you're complaining about it's Jewish character. What a pathetic display.
I understand that Israel keeps describing itself as "a Jewish state". And I have nothing against that at all, so long as that term is used in the same way as Italy is "a Catholic state" and the UK is "a Protestent state". Those are simple statements of demographic fact, and if those demographics ever tilted the other way then so would the description of that state. "You don't complain about Christian countries." None of them demand that loyalty be pledged to the state religion, SDHD. Only theocracies do that, and this law places Israel in amongst the theocracies, not amongst the democracies. "Now you're complaining about it's Jewish character." No, I'm complaining about the demand that its citizens must pledge allegiance to the dominant ethnic group. No other "democracy" does that.
not even america, the 78% christian nation founded by extremist english christians, requires their citizens to take such an absurd pledge. i recall it being said long ago that israel would one day have to choose between being a jewish state and being a free state. it's becoming increasingly clear that they've chosen the former. what will happen in another generation when 1/4 israelis are haredi, if this is how the israelis behave now?
Never heard of the "Pledge of Allegiance" - right? The hateful stupidity on this forum is astonishing.
nothing in the pledge of alliegance specifically refers to christianity.
meli characterized this (proposed) pledge as "absurd", and that is perfectly apt. And especially so when compared to the USA, where you pledge allegiance to a CONSTITUTION, not to a particular ethno-religous group. After all, this (proposed) law requires that a person not only pledge loyalty to a ethno-religious group to which they do not belong, but also to an ethno-religous group to which they WILL NEVER be allowed to join, no matter how fervent their desire to convert.
You do realize that Israel is a Jewish state, and that many countries require that one swear allegiance to that state to become citizens, don't you? Probably not, you're dense.
What about the end of the U.S. oath of citizenship which states, "So help me God"? What if the person applying for citizenship is an atheist? Dumboy is a particularly ignorant anti-Israeli.
"You do realize that Israel is a Jewish state, and that many countries require that one swear allegiance to that state to become citizens, don't you?" Name me the countries that demand that allegiance be sworn to the ETHNIC BASED nature of the state, rather than to the laws/constitution of that state. Go on, SDHD, give me that list, and we'll see what "company" Israel will be keeping.....
The phrase "so help me God" is optional in all oath's of the United States of America. Not even the Oath of Office for the President of the United States requires it, and in all oaths the phrase "so help me God" can be replaced by "on oath". Don't you know ANYTHING?????
Do you even know the Pledge of Allegiance? I quote: "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the republic for which it stands, one nation under GOD, indivisible with liberty and justice for all." Which God do you think they're talking about, Allah? What exactly is God doing in the Pledge of Allegiance anyway, in a country that claims to have total separation of Church and State? (Actually it wasn't always there; the word God was inserted in the 1950s during the Cold War).
People in the states are free to say the pledge or not. It is optional. One need not swear to be loyal christians in the US to become citizens. That is what folks here are objecting to. A loyalty oath should be to the country, not to ethnic or religious groups. That is done in a theocracy, not a democracy.
Not the one recited in school halls, I hope? Because THAT pledge has no legal standing whatsoever. SDHD was talking about the Oath of citizenship, and I am perfectly correct to point out that the phrase "so help me God" can be replaced with "on oath" and it still retain its validity. That is true of ALL oaths of office, and ALL oaths that have a legal standing.
That one wishing to live in a country, not wish to annihilate it?
Considering seventy years ago a Jewish minority in Palestine wanted to do the same thing.
I never knew that, Kozik. Anti-Israelis are morons.
In particular, you don't appear to know the difference between "a country", "a colony", and "a state". Mandate itself mentions the word "country" no less than 11 times when referring to "Palestine". And the Mandatory most definitely passed a citizenship law that made every a "citizen of Palestine", and handed out passports that were likewise marked "citizen of Palestine". Palestine certainly **was** a country, and the Mandatory and the League of Nations (see Art 22 of the LoN Convenant) both treated it as such.
Being forced to swear fealty to a Jewish state should not bother any Arab for even a second. Such an oath is a joke and the people behind such silliness. It should be treated with utmost gravite and fingers crossed and a secret smile. What nonsense Israeli Jews dream up to put forward their racist tendencies.
thanks for making my day, every time i read yrs stories I get the giggles and I smile All day, and know that there are still idiots in this world, have u seen a doctor recently?U should.
Thanks for reading my posts. I promise to keep bringing you the truth, but I can't vouch for how long it will take you to realize this. Keep reading! ; )
I wouldn't hesitate for a moment to swear to such a racist oath, knowing it's a bunch of zio-crap.
how many anti israel and anti semites post on this site. it is like haaretz encourages and onnly supports anti israel/jewish behavior. very feww israelis post or even read this rag. when the try to post... not published. durson you are indeed a vile anti semite.
about the racist mary...
The reason many opinions expressed here are more critical of Israeli policy than you are used to is because this English version of the paper is directed at an international audience. We are not part of your nationalistic society that has been brainwashed into believing that anything the Israeli state does is right and that Arabs don't have the same rights as Jews.
You are correct. there is a ban on Israeli posts here, so my new method is : try signing Mohammad,Ali, Yassin, Nabil etc... and Yes it work!!!!
I don't recall her ever saying Jewish people are rats or vermin. When has she suggested that Jewish people be blown up, drowned, hung, or shot? These are the comments made by the ever so moral pro Israeli folks toward those who disagree. She expresses her opinion without invective. It would be nice if others followed suit.
DAvid Im Israeli but Im also Arab and I post here all the time but Im not anti semite I love Israel it is my home and I shall sit on this rag and rag on till someone shuts it down due to such hate
You may not be part of a nationalistic society, but you are part of a hairbrained bunch of racists who criticize Israel more harshly and disproportionately than any other country.
"I don't recall her ever saying Jewish people are rats or vermin" Just because YOU personally didn't see something doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I recall her OFTEN making slanted comments about Jews.
In many democraties citizenship can be revoked, if a married in palestinian will produce crimes against the state after having promised loyalty this may of course be the case. This happens in other democaraties aswell. And as israel also faces a demogafic threat, I can see the reason for it. Iews will not be alowed to live in Palestine, they were never allowed to live in Jordan. i wonder why most pals who marry Israeli arabs want to live in the horrible state of Israel!
is an anti-semete if you will provide concrete examples of this. Is she simply disagrees with you, or even has an anti-Israeli bias, that is not a sign of anti-semitism, but anti-Zionism. I know it is difficult for Israeli's to accept that there is a difference between those two, but there is. One is against the Jewish people, the other is against Israeli policies. So please, tell me exactly what Durson has said that you consider anti-semitic.
jews living in christian countries (e.g. spain, greece, UK, etc.) were required to swear to support Christ? Or if jews in indonesia were required to support Islam? or jews in China were required to support communism before our G-d? This is a silly and racist law that pushes us several steps toward being the mirror of the theocratic 'Islamic Republic of Iran'.
have u read the article?? it has nothing to do with religion, when u swear loyalty in any country u swear on the, bible, Torah, Koran or what ever u wont, it has nothing to do with a democratic countries, well maybe in Arab countries where Islam rules
It would be understood if Jews were to swear to be loyal citizens of the nation and not do anything to harm it from the inside.
It is all about religion. In the US nearly all Jewish organizations say that the US becoming a Christian nation would make them (and all other non-Christians) second class citizens. Either those US Jews are lying, or this motion makes religion a very serious matter indeed. It has nothing to do with what you swear on.
AN ARAB!, I swear to keep Israel Safe from any real dangers from outside or inside, I am not Jewish. I will vote, have a full time job, pay my taxes and keep my grass short, I will smile to my neighbours, and will always buy it if it says "Made in Israel". but I am not Jewish. it is a democracy, and I am free to choose my religion, I will never swear loyalty to anything except Israel.
The country is Israel, so if the pledge is to the country it would be to Israel and not to a "Jewish state".
When did Israel cease to be a Jewish state? Was it at the same time as Saudi Arabia ceasing to be an Islamic one?
In Denmark immigrants also have to swear their loyalty to the democatic state of Denmarks with it´s mainly christian valius and laws.
Your are perfectly right. No problem. Your loyalty is to Israel which is defined as a jewish democratic state. You must have equal opportunities and equal rights. If you dont have them, then you have the right to complain and struggle politically for achieving those rights. At the same time the state has the right to demand you to serve in the army
That would have been when Israel became a democracy. The state is Israelis live in is Israel, which is a democracy that represents all of the people, not a Jewish theocracy that only represents the Jews (although I can admit it is often hard to tell the difference). Israel is a democratic state where the population is predominantly Jewish.