The government has made another breach in the walls of
Judaism by bringing thousands of non-Jews into Eretz Yisroel
by granting citizenship to foreign workers who came to Israel
before the age of 14 and have lived here for at least six
years. UTJ announced that it strongly objects to the
decision.
Government approval this week of a temporary provision by
Interior Minister Roni Bar-On (Kadima) raises concerns that
these children will eventually become the parents of Israeli
children who will seek to force their way into Kerem Beis
Yisroel, as has happened in numerous instances in recent
years following marriages between Jews and foreign
workers.
The government decision was passed by a large majority vote
of 18 to 5. Among the opponents were Shas ministers and
Foreign Minister Livni. Bar-On's original proposal would have
granted citizenship to all children of foreign workers.
The new decision is liable to flood the country with
thousands more non-Jews and lead to more cases of
intermarriage and more non-Jews on IDF bases, in addition to
the thousands of non-Jews who came to Israel from Russian-
speaking countries.
The issue is scheduled to come before the Knesset today
following an urgent motion to the agenda submitted by MK
Rabbi Moshe Gafni on Sunday.
"The government decision is anti-nationalist, harms the
State's Jewish identity and will have grave demographic
ramifications," said MK Rabbi Meir Porush (UTJ).
MK Nissan Slomiansky (NRP-HaIchud HaLeumi) said, "The Sharon
Government's decision to evict Jews from their homes included
the claim that the move was made to preserve the country as a
Jewish country and to preserve its Jewish character. With a
wave of the hand this surprising government decision
introduces more and more non-Jews who will invariably harm
the Jewish character of the State. In a galling move that
violates human rights thousands of Jews were expelled from
their homes, and now in order not to harm the rights of
foreign workers' children they are being permitted to build
their homes in Israel. Is their blood dearer than the blood
of banished Gush Katif residents?"
In response PM Ehud Olmert said that in his opinion the
approval of the temporary order does not alter the Jewish
character of the State of Israel.
