The right to live here
The Jewish people has the right to its own state like other nations, and it has the right to its own Law of Return, as do other dispersed peoples, including the Armenians and the Palestinians in their state that is supposed to be established beside Israel.
By Alexander YakobsonThe Interior Ministry never sleeps. According to a recent report in Haaretz, it turns out that the same despicable policy applied for many years in East Jerusalem - revoking residence rights of those who left the city for an extended period and want to come back - is also being applied to members of the small Armenian community in the Old City.
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A boy pictured in East Jerusalem |
| Photo by: Tess Scheflan |
This community of 2,000 people has been living in this city for hundreds of years and includes descendents of survivors of the Armenian genocide in the early 20th century.
These are the people whom the Interior Ministry of the Jewish state has chosen to harass. Members of the community who travel abroad for a few years to study or work discover their residence has expired; this policy also hurts clerics of the Armenian Church. It's depressing (though not really surprising ) that there's no one in the government who can explain to the interior minister that Israel, in its current diplomatic situation, has no interest in provoking the Armenian diaspora with this ugly harassment. But, clearly, it's not the Armenians, but the Palestinian Arabs in East Jerusalem who are the main target of the policy of revoking the identity cards of those who leave the city for an extended period. The ministry is following the letter of the law in this matter, and the law itself is not unreasonable, but its application to residents of East Jerusalem is blatantly unjust.
After East Jerusalem was annexed by Israel in 1967, most of its residents did not ask for Israeli citizenship for political reasons, and they are living in the city with the status of permanent residents. In the original sense of the term, a permanent resident is someone who came from another country and settled in Israel without taking its citizenship or losing his original citizenship. Permanent resident status is like an Israeli Green Card.
When such a person leaves the country for years, it's legitimate in principle (though not in every case ) to decide that his connection to Israel has expired; this person naturally has a country to which he can return.
But the residents of East Jerusalem are not foreigners who came here from abroad. They are natives of this country and city, who have the right to live here. Israel has recognized this right since 1967, and the status of permanent resident provides a solution to most of the legal problems that could arise in this situation.
But the right of a person to live in his country and city includes - especially in the current global reality - the right to travel abroad to study or work, or for any other purpose, and return home, even after many years, without being dependent on anyone's good will.
I was born abroad and came here under the Law of Return. The right of East Jerusalem residents to live here is no less than mine. There are those who claim that my right is less than theirs. I don't accept that. The Jewish people has the right to its own state like other peoples, and it has the right to its own Law of Return, as do other dispersed peoples, including the Armenians and the Palestinians in their state that is supposed to be established beside Israel.
Whoever denies this, denies the principle of equality even as he claims to defend it. But this does not mean that the Jewish state is allowed to violate the right of residence of those who were born here. The Supreme Court should not have given a hand to this injustice, even if it has a formal pretext. The court should set thing straight. The phrase: "To provide a remedy for the sake of justice" was coined for such cases.
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Dear Mr. Jakobsen: What part of "A JEWISH STATE" don't you understand?
I am PALESTINIAN and I have the right to return to my home and to live at it . Those who live at a home is not theirs must leave now. You as Jews have the right to teturn to Poland and Germany as well as all countries you used to live along the course of time.
I am not sure that Germany and Poland would allow Jews back. To the best of my knowledge, those countries do not have a "right to return" law. I don't think either of those countries (esp Poland) would want to let thousands of descendents of Jews back in. Of course, if there is such a law, please inform us.
I am not sure that Germany and Poland would allow Jews back. To the best of my knowledge, those countries do not have a "right to return" law. I don't think either of those countries (esp Poland) would want to let thousands of descendents of Jews back in. Of course, if there is such a law, please inform us.
The Arab nations that kicked out the Jews, can they go back?
The Jewish "People" may have the right to its own state, "like other Nations", but certainly not in Palestine. Rather where they came from: the great plains between the Volga and the Oder Rivers.
If you made aliyah, then 3 months after you arrived you became an Israeli citizen. From what you've said, this ruling affects people who were offered Israeli citizenship but refused it "for political reasons". You also don't say how long after they've left the country that their permanent residency is revoked.
who stay outside USA too long. I am confused about the Armenians- did they rejects Israeli citizenship ? The Arabs who rejected Israeli citizenship made their choice, unlike the many Jews thrown out of other nations. Jordan does not allow Jews to live in that nation nor own land.
There is no East or West Jerusalem after reunion, there is One Jerusalem and Israel offered citizenship to those who remained after reunion of the devided city. Those who did not take it are not citizens and are subject to the law, similar to the US, Canada, Australia, etc. so this article is simply anti-democratic, unlawful and anti-Israel.
There is no "reunion" as you call it, it was an internationally not recognised annexation of this part of the occupied territory. The right-wing ideologues like you pretend that it's otherwise, but it's not. Inhabitants of East-Jerusalem can be citizens of the neiboring country of Israel, but it's no need to aquire a foreign nationality to stay a legal citizen.
Hi: Alexander Yakobson: Thanks and salute for your article (The right of return is not for Jews alone). Your words coming from a Jew ,it means a lot for us Palestinians and Armenians. If more people like you on the Israeli side think this way coexistence is very possible.
once you'll have to deside: Jewish a religion, jewish a people, jewish a nation. I suppose Shlomo Sand has given a satisfactury explication. Don't french jews (or american, polish, hungarian, south african, iranian a.s.o...) belong to the nation of their citizenship ?
Anyone born in Jerusalem has the right to reside in the city even after a long absence. Period. Just like any British, French or American expatriate, who can return to his own country after years of studying or working abroad. Yishai's actions will only accentuate the anti-Israeli attitude of world public opinion. Quite rightly so.
All residents of East Jerusalem are offered Israeli citizenship. Tens of thousands of them took it and have no problem leaving Israel for 20 years and coming back. Those who REFUSE to take Israeli citizenship do have their residency status revoked after 20 years of absence. "Ugly harassment"? I don't think so.
Residents of Jerusalem WERE offered citizenship during a SHORT period of time after the city was annexed to Israel. Most refused the offer. At the time the residents had Jordanian citizenship, and in any case didn't know how long the occupation will last. TODAY, many apply for Israeli citizenship but are usually refused; less than 100 new citizenships are granted per year. Now, where did you hear about the 20 year rule? Another rosy dream?
"Everyone has the right to a nationality." - Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 15(1). In 1967, the Arab and Armenian residents of East Jerusalem had a nationality, a Jordanian nationality. Since then, Jordan withdrew its claim to Jerusalem, which was not recognized by the UN , Israel, Arab countries, and almost everybody else. The result was that residents of East Jerusalem lost their Jordanian nationality. According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which Israel supports, they are entitled to a nationality. What should this be? Israel must come to grips with this issue. And while for the Arabs of East Jerusalem there can be the plausible claim that they prefer Palestinian nationality, this does not work for the Armenians. I think Israel should at least allow the return of all East Jerusalemites to the city if they do not hold a foreign citizenship. The issue will finally be settled when peace is achieved (hopefully within the next few years). Until them, better not be too nasty.
And this indeed is the problem: "... most of its residents did not ask for Israeli citizenship for political reasons... " well, now they are being denied residency "for political reasons". OK, it's their decision.
Israel is in a state of war, internally and externally, and is still dealing with the mental disease of antisemitism from the descendants who are waiting for the end-of-days genocide of the Jewish people, it is correct to respond in ways to such deformed fanatics, that do not jive with the good-feel day-to-day modern convenient definitions of right and wrong. Jews simply don't have the same luxury as the dying western world.
Israel has signed up to all the major instruments of international law and most of the human rights treaties. It therefore has an obligation to abide by these commitments. To suggest otherwise, and to use 'Jewish exceptionalism' as an excuse is crass, egotistical and immoral. You should be ashamed.
What is happening to Israel, feeling only their own pain and not the pain of others. As Jews feel the pain of the Holocaust, the Armenians feel the pain of their genocide. You have to feel the pain of others, not just yours. These Armenians are descendants of a genocidal policy of Turkey that occurred in WWI and led to the establishment of modern Turkey when the Ottoman Empire fell. After the deportations from Anatolia, the Armenian homeland for thousands of years, many of them were left starving to death in Lebanon and Jerusalem. If not for the Near East Relief (American), they would have all died (total genocide of a people would have occurred). Right and wrong means following the golden rule: do unto others what you want others to do unto you. Why don't you get to know the Armenians,you may find people friendly to Jews and Israel, intelligent, and talented, artistic, who should not be mistreated by the State of Israel.
Mocking around with laws of own country is deceitful at best ( and already sounds pretty damning ). Most of the countries have laws detailing the sum and schedule of levy to be paid to retain legal residency. The reason is when someone is abroad, they have to pay taxes and support homeland, just like they do when they live inside the country borders without making additional effort. It will not make Israel better country or worse country to flaunt own laws to politically expedient cause. Fighting Armenian Genocide does not water out laws of residency of any country, Israel is one of them.
Granting right of return to someone based on his/her religious affiliation and denying to someone else who was actually born there (or his parents or grandparents) is a gross case of religious intolerance and violation of the most basic Human Rights. The day Israel/Palestine become a democratic nation, this law will be the fist one to be repelled.
Germany, France, Norway, Ireland, etc. all have "Right of return" laws granting citizenship based on ethnicity.
At least for Germany your comment is simply wrong. Citizenship based on ethnicity was part of an old law from the time when we still had an emperor.
Current German law allows persons of German descent to return to Germany and claim German citizenship. The "return" to Germany of individuals who may never have lived in Germany based on their ethnic origin. The law is codified in Article 116 of the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany.
michelle obama has right of return to ghana since her great grand parents came from the central region in ghana
The treatment of Armenians by Israeli authorities is a disgraceful, discriminatory attack on the Christian community.
Many Armenians lost their citizenship for studying abroad, even though their families have been living in the Old City for centuries. Meanwhile, American and European jews move in the Old City even though their families have never set foot there. This attach on Armenian christians is a disgrace.
The Op-ed States: "After East Jerusalem was annexed by Israel in 1967, most of its residents did not ask for Israeli citizenship for political reason" These people refused to acknowledge that they were governed by Israel and chose to keep their Jordanian citizenship as many Arabs did and now they find they are not Israeli, nor Jordanian and there is no Palestine, so what to do? These people made their decision and now must live with the consequences..
Its about time that an article regarding the suffering of the Armenian community in Jerusalem in regards to revoking of IDs is brought up. Just a few weeks ago my wife's cousin came to visit her ailing aunt and her Jerusalem ID was revoked immediately. This is an absurd and racist policy since it is slowly destroying the Armenian community in Jerusalem. A community which has given so much to Jerusalem in terms of culture, the arts and history. The beauty of Jerusalem has always been its diversity and cosmopolitan character and as Armenians we are slowly being forced to leave this beautiful city.
There are alot of people who think its unfair that jews from anywhere in the world should be entitled to citizenship based on the fact they are jewish whilst you have arabs who are decended from refugees and they will never set foot in Israel. SImple fact of the matter is that the right of return applies ONLY to people the state decides is entitled to be given that right. In this case there are also political reasons which is nothing personal. Israel is going all out to create a situation on the ground where its impossible for the palestinians to declare Jerusalem as capital of any future entity .. thats politics and politics worldwide is very rarely based on fairness...... If Israel wants to hold onto east Jerusalem you can hardly blame it for taking actions that are unfair its about putting state interests before individual interests.
obviously this is what the israeli government wants (and i fear also the majority of israelis). nevertheless, we have to blame the israeli government for these acions. simply becaus they are inhumane. these nationalists are just as fundamenatistic as hamas. make peace with your neighbours. give the palestinans a country. israel has to start giving because it occupies the land of the palestinians, oppresses a people and claims to be a "democracy".
Do you want an end to the conflict? Do you want Israel to remain "Jewish and democratic"? Then you'd better let go E. Jlem. The Palestinians will never accept any solution that doesnt include East Jerusalem. You'll keep having conflict and deaths until the occupation regime can be tenable no more, and the world pushes Israel to grant citizenship to all inhabitants in the Territories. Then you can kiss goodbye your "Jewish state".
I have a different prediction: in about 20 to 30 years the age of oil ends, and with resulting dramatic changes realization slowly sinks that destroying Israel is no longer an attainable goal. After that reaching peace agreement suddenly becomes very easy.
If the Romans would not have sent the Jews into exile Israel would have still been a Jewish country. If there would have been no antisemitism over the ages, wherever the Jews lived, the Jews would have disappeard as a nation a long time ago. If the Holocaust would not have happened maybe Israel would have been by now either Jordan or Egypt or both. Nobody expeled the Palestinians from a country that never existed. There is no "antiPalestinian" sentiment in Lebanon, Siria, or Jordan. And there was never a Palestinian Holocaust, no Palestinians were mass murdered because they or their ancestor were 1/8 Palestinians. The comparison in this article is simply ridiculous
You have utterly missed the point. Why should there be a fixed and delineated border and the adoption of a name in order to define a "home"? A person who has dwelt in an area and then leaves should be entitled to return home. It matters not whether this home was part of a larger region defined a "country". It is simply a return to their former place of residence. In this way, Jewish people are justifiably able to reclaim their property in European states from which they were ejected. The article as such is totally valid.
i strongly recommend to read "the invention of the jewish people" by shlomo sand. there is no jewish people, there jews. just like there is no christian people or muslim people. and also read some history books that are not full of israeli propaganda: there was no exile after the Roman conquest. as long as people think like you, we shall never see peace in the middle east. you are just as brainwashed as the people from hamas...
i strongly recommend to read "the invention of the jewish people" by shlomo sand. there is no jewish people, there jews. just like there is no christian people or muslim people. and also read some history books that are not full of israeli propaganda: there was no exile after the Roman conquest. as long as people think like you, we shall never see peace in the middle east. you are just as brainwashed as the people from hamas...
The dwellers that left their homes did not do so because they were expelled by the Israelis: there are a lot of Israeli Arabs that stayed and prospered. They left enticed by the propaganda of the seven Arab nations that attacked israel after the partition and promessed the that if they would leave they would get the beautiful Israeli colonies after the Arab armies would massacre the Jews living in them. Well, it does not pay to be that greedy!
This book has been discredited not only by almost every historian of the ancient Near East, but also by DNA evidence. Based on a rather large sampling of DNA, it has been established that indeed most people who define themselves as born Jews have common ancestory -- this is across the world. Sounds like exiles to me.
You mean that Jews are"people of the Jewish faith".? Even more ridiculous! There is a Jewish literature, history, music, and there are many non-religious Jews. And unless you are another Holocaust denier, you probably know that Hitler did not just kill those Jews that went to synagogues... As per the Roman exile, in you next trip to Rome visit the Arch of Titus you'll find the inscription Judea Capta Judea Victa and the images of the Jews taken to exile.... or try Google o Wikipedia.
Cut the propaganda Johnny. Israeli historians made very clear that there were no Arab calls telling the Palestinians to leave their homes. This was all a fabrication. Palestinians were expelled en masse by the Jewish forces. They are refugees with an inalienable right to go back home. Jews in Europe or America have no right whatsoever to a land where their ancestors have never set foot.
as if there is ONE jewish literature, ONE jewish history, ONE jewish music.. like the sephardi have exactly the same culture as the ashkenazi.. right? hitler is also a "great" argument.. basically you are saying that his idea that jews are a disctinct "race" is right... how poor.. and by the way, i lived in rome and if you ever get to see the arch of titus maybe you will observe that there are no "jews taken to exile" depicted but rather roman soldiers bringing spoils of war to rome. and get a latin dictionary: "ivdea capta ivdea victa" means "judea captured, judea conquered" and NOT "we have kicked out all jews of israel"..
i truly admire "truthinadverstising" for reading all critiques of professor sand's book ."almost every historian".. that's a lot to read ;) and concerning the dna "evidence": i suppose he is referring to a study which included 327 jews.. very scientific indeed... hitler would be applauding you for agreeing with him on this matter.. i just hope people in israel and the world are opening up their minds to get rid of the israeli propaganda one day..
What exactly does he teach at TAU? Do you think his books have anything to do with his upbringing? Have you read the many papers disproving many of his 'lies'? Your comment about Sfradim and Ashkenazim is irrelevant. Are Americans in New York the same as they are in Texas as they are in California? Different areas will promote different 'customs' and value systems. I may not have the same customs as my Ashkenazi buddies, BUT we share the same faith, the same language, etc.
that is exactly the point: there are american people, equal citizens of one country with different religions, customs.. people means people of a country, not of a religion. there is no christian people, there is no muslim people and there is no Jewish people. you do share with your "ashkenazi buddies" the same faith (although a lot of ashkenazim do not think that..see the haredi school which kicked out a sephardi girl for having a "stain in her genealogy"), and language, but you are not common members of something like the "jewish people". i just cannot believe that there are people in 2010 who still think in those antiquated mindsets.. jews were converting others, assimilated, mixed, etc. your "ashkenazim buddies" are genetically closer to a white lithuanian than to a sephardi from marocco.. i pray for the day when there is a "israeli people" where all citizens, regardless of their religion, race, etc. are equal..
Thank you for saying my point... You see, you couldn't answer but one of my questions ... You just tried to focus on one point - which actually proves you wrong (who are you to define what 'people' are? why the comparison to Islam and Christianity?) ... yes, and I lived in the US - equal citizens? Ha ha, you must be joking (some of the minority members I talked to would ask for what you're smoking if you really believe that) and in the process - shows why you've made Sand your hero: 'A lot of Ashkenazim' based on one extreme sect within the haredim world? It's susprirsing that someone who likes such an open minded person like Sand (must stop sarcasm) would say 'a lot' based on one extreme sect of Ashkeanzim. Let's be honest though - your love of Sand, and of what he's preaching, is more due to what you believe should be for Israel and/or the Jewish people. Don't talk about Genetics when test after test disprove your statement. I pray for the day when people like you just stop hiding behind radical, extremist, elitist Israeli professors (like Neve Gordon from BGU, who supports BDS, which supports - and openly so - one state and the end of Israel). Just be honest. It saves all the necessary work to try and hide your true colors (all ashkeanzim hate me! oops, most of them!)
A lot of those "genetic studies" are based on the fact that a man's "Y chromosome" stays intact on every male down the line generation after generation. So let's go back to "ancient Israel" and explain how the above subject can happen. 1) Ancient Israelites get "dispersed" 2) Those who go to Europe mix/assimilate with and become "whiter" in appearance. Yet the "Y chromosome" from the Middle East stays intact. 3) The Sephardim do not "mix" (or they do with 'neighbors' who have a similar physical appearance). So they do not physically become Europeans, yet THE Y CHROMOSOME stays intact. The very very "black" African looking Lemba tribe (who have many "Jewish" customs) has this same Y chromosome from the Middle East as well. So at some time some Jews went down there, mixed with the locals, the offspring mixed with more locals, until they were generally "black". Yet THE Y CHROMOSOME STAYED INTACT. Much more than a fairly (though not complete) common Middle East ancestry for most Jews, I think these "genetic studies" really showed that the "whitest" Scandanavian and the "blackest" African could have the same paternal ancestor and be quite "related" and show that we are not so "different" after all.
1. he is teaching history at tau, teaching classes on nationalism, for example. do you believe just because somebody did not do his b.a. or m.a. or ph.d. in something means he cannot write about something else? or: do you believe because someone did all his studies in one field, he is flawless in this field? i sure hope not.. 2. of course i read some critics who were disagreeing. that has nothing to do with uncovering "lies". historiography is always subjective. there is never one right side. that's why it is so important to hear different opinions. i do not agree with sand on everything, but i am on his side that it "is a bitter irony to see the descendants of Holocaust survivors set out to find a biological Jewish identity". if you knew something about genetics, you would know that those "studies" have not proven anything, except maybe that we are all coming from the same roots and should embrace that fact instead of trying to disunite.. unfortunately, the haredi are not that small in numbers.. it is not the majority, fortunately, but still too many and yes.. quite a lot with a lot of influence. it is shocking that this "small sect" can do almost whatever they want without israel intervening.. just one example why israel is not democratic: how can it be that a 20 year old israeli arab is not allowed to marry in his state 1. a jew, or 2. another arab from palestine and live with his partner together in israel? every citizen on the us can marry somebody from anywhere in the world an bring him to the usa. not everything is perfect in states, but israel can learn a lot from them.. as for my "true colors": it is so sad to see that there are so many people like you with so much anger in them. i just hope you will one day listen to your heart and reach out to your brothers and sisters. Shalom beIsrael
i can agree with the second half of your last sentence. what genetic studies really have shown is, that we are all the same and we all come from the same roots. nevertheless, you overestimate the "y chromosome". jewish women have also mixed with other men, just like jewish men have mixed with women of other races and religions. additionally, whole tribes were converted by jews. it is not that simple. if you follow genetic studies you will find that they are contradicting each other many times and come to different conclusions. as a matter of fact, we think we know so much about genetics when we actually just started to understand it.
"it is so sad to see that there are so many people like you with so much anger in them' No anger dude - I just know when someone generalizes a whole population, be it Arabs or Jews, they've got bias. I just didn't expect you to be doing it so quickly. Then, when you try to run away from the 'oops line', "unfortunately, the haredi are not that small in numbers.." - yes Haredim are not a small number, but there are many Sefardi Haredim and most Ashkenazi Haredim don't hold the views of the minority. In fact, there's a reason why most of Shas's leadership's children (until this recent event) went to ... Beit Yaakov schools. "just one example why israel is not democratic: how can it be that a 20 year old israeli arab is not allowed to marry in his state" And now, your true colors show again. An Israeli Arab can marry in Israel with no problem, he just has to go through the Muslim courts. Jews go through the Rabbanut (yes, things have to change there). Christians etc. In fact, how do you think so many Israeli Arabs get married in East Jerusalem? Magic maybe? :) "israel can learn a lot from them" Israel can learn a lot from a lot of countries. I agree. Just like we can teach, we can learn too. That is the sign of someone who's wise. "that's why it is so important to hear different opinions" But you don't want to hear different opinions as you proclaimed sand's work as FACT and mocked those who disagreed with it in this thread. Where do you really stand? ""is a bitter irony to see the descendants of Holocaust survivors set out to find a biological Jewish identity"" Funny, if you ever a chance (and I doubt you will), go talk to the 80-90 year old Yemenites and Iraqis. See how they talk about the Jewish nation etc. There's plenty of stuff, as I said, that comes out against sand - who's openly motivated by his anti-Zionist and communist background - and points out major holes in his research. It's roundly ignored by him (I saw this with my own eyes at one of his lectures) ...
Froy, you know perfectly well that the Arabs who chose to stay were not expelled. We have Israel Arabs that are MK. To talk about generic "historians" that do no exist or are people who wrote pamphlets is the oldests and silliest technique of discussion. Not even a nice try
no reputable historian or ethnologists gives it much credance as you would interpret the book.
123+ generation of eating only kosher food and being sabbath observant and observing shmita (family purity) and washing hands has changed the expression of Jewish DNA. By intermarrying, there is a change in expression for the worse. The children will suffer. Eating kosher means the epigenome expression of fear and anxiety carried in the blood of trefa food desensitizes a person to the suffering of others. Peeling vegetables reduces mold and bacterial intake which also sets off the immune system and changes behavior and health. Sabbath observance calms the nerves on a seven day cycle and makes a person less prone to the 'fight or flight' dilemna.
So we should not mix you up with facts, you have made up your mind? There are no Jews that are not of Jewish faith? That have no religious inclination at all and they are still Jews? There are no captive Jews depicted in the Arch of Titus? (and who ever mentioned "we have kicked.. interpretation - ") Amici, diem perdidi - Titus. It surely applies to this discusion
i did not generalize a whole population.. and i also never said all of sand's work is a fact. however, it is a fact that there is no jewish people. i know that is hard for a lot of fundamentalists.. the question was not "can an muslim israeli arab marry in his state" but rather: "can he marry 1. a jew, or 2. somebody from palestine". of course, you had to leave out the second half of my question because you would see that israel has too many features of an undemocratic state. an arab muslim cannot marry a jew in israel. fact. he can also not marry a palestinian and live with her in israel. fact. the great government of israel and the knesst took care of that. i expect most of "80-90 year old yemenites and iraqis" to disagree with sand, most of them having been discriminated against in their countries of birth and never having had a proper education. however, i have talked to enough jews of an "older generation", including holocaust survivors, and i observed that most of them, especially the ones with a higher level of education, see that what israel is doing is wrong and they would never go to live there since they have a better life here in europe, i.e. i guess you are pretty young, maybe around 25. if you are living in israel, you are a part of the future there. i wish you that you will question more, one day you will see that violence only leads to violence, see that all men are created equal and we need to find SIMILARITIES and not DIFFERENCES who disunite us. i see there is no way right now that you will see beyound what's been taught to you. i hope you will soon..
This is Israel!!!! What do you expect!
Eli Iashai is basically an ignorant and a racist. His fight is against Israel born chlidren from foreign workers. He says that expelling children is for the good of the jewish state. However, these children in their great majority want to belong to the jewish nation and want to serve the army that a great majority of Ishai's constituency does not do. Ishai did not lift a finger when the ashkenazi haredim expelled sefaradim children from school. Ashenazi racism fits well into Ishai's racist dreams. Shaas schools are alimented by Ashkenazi racism. Lately he is interested in blowing up Israel especial relationships with America. Tackling arab residents in East jerusalem is a way of doing it. In short Ishai and his party are one the worst political phenomenon in Israel politics. Israel should strive for a coalition goverenmnet without Shas and Liberman. That is indeed possible and will be done very soon.