It’s one of those head-in-hands, stomach churning moments, akin to when a lover finally shuts the door. You’re left in shock, beliefs awry. Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition of the extremes is about to pass into law an unprecedented loyalty oath - aimed at non-Jews only. New, non-Jewish citizens will have to swear allegiance to the “Jewish and democratic” state of Israel.
This is wrong on so many levels. Just for starters, the Jews of Europe were hounded through history and their loyalty questioned because they could not, in good faith, swear allegiance to Christian monarchies and states. Next, it corrupts all the principles of liberal democracy, tolerance and minority rights.
The fact that it is aimed at anyone planning to become a citizen of Israel and does not include the 20 per cent of the citizenship who are Israeli Arabs is no reassurance. The legislation though practically ineffectual is meant as a show of legal force against Israeli Arabs - and drawn from a toxic draft that did demand all citizens swear the oath or become subjects. It sets a vile precedent.
Apologists who claim that any state has the right ask would-be citizens to swear loyalty to the state (with spurious analogies to the USA et al.) must explain why Jews are then not included in this new legislation.
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