Netanyahu tells cabinet: Democracy is the soul of Israel

[oberliner]

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu spoke out against those who refuse to recognize Israel as a Jewish and democratic state during a weekly cabinet meeting Sunday. "The State of Israel is the national state of the Jewish People and is a democratic state in which all its citizens – Jewish and non-Jewish – enjoy fully equal rights...To my regret, today, there are those who are trying to blur not only the unique connection between the Jewish People and its homeland, but also the connection between the Jewish People and its state," he said.

Netanyahu's remarks came amid cabinet discussions on whether to accept a proposed amendment to the Citizenship Law.

Netanyahu was set to bring to the cabinet on Sunday the wording of a new loyalty oath to Israel as a “Jewish and democratic state” that naturalized citizens not making aliya under the Law of Return will be asked to make.

During the cabinet meeting, Netanyahu added that, "Democracy is the soul of Israel and we cannot do without it...There is no other democracy in the Middle East. There is no other Jewish state in the world.The combination of these two lofty values expresses the foundation of our national life and anyone who would like to join us needs to recognize this."

http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=190839

[whosinpower]

1. Fully equal rights?

Would demand that ALL citizens regardless of HOW they were immigrating - would be required to make an oath of loyalty to the State of Israel. In a democracy - the state should clarify and reinforce the equality of ALL its citizens - regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender. To demand an oath from non-jews only is an assault on the democratic principles set forth in the declaration of independance. It is discriminatory. It is divisive.

The combination of a democracy and a jewish state together as equal foundations of the state of Israel is under attack.....even as Netanyahu speaks lofty words.

[oberliner]

2. ADL: Loyalty oath should cover Jewish immigration

The Anti-Defamation League called on the Israeli government to extend a proposed amendment to the Citizenship Act to cover all immigrants seeking citizenship, including Jews.The Jewish-American organization, which isn't considered left wing, is demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu alter the amendment to the Citizenship Law.

ADL National Director Abraham H. Foxman explained that "in the spirit of Israel’s founding principles of equality, we urge Israel’s government to adopt further modifications to the proposed amendment to the citizenship law so it will apply to all immigrants to Israel, including those entering under the Law of Return.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3967986,00.html

Some similar sentiments.

[txaslftist]

3. So long as only Jews vote.

[txaslftist]

4. An honest statement would have been "conquest is the soul of Israel"

But expecting honesty from Netanyahoo is a bit much.

[Tripmann]

5. When his coalition collapses, he should pursue a career in comedy.