The right to marriage (Ha'aretz editorial)

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Israel's immigration policy will be decided, so it appears, by a panel of jurists appointed by Interior Minister Ophir Pines-Paz with the view to determining transparent regulations that will put an end to the maltreatment faced by any non-Jew wishing to live in Israel. But extremist opinions that prevail in the government could give rise to a draconian immigration law that would undermine the rights of Israeli citizens who wish to marry a non-Jew.

A spirit of intolerance toward non-Jews pervades the current government. Some of the ministers - and first and foremost, Ariel Sharon - are fearful about the loss of the Jewish majority and the state being inundated by Palestinians who will marry Arab Israelis. This fear is not supported by the figures because since 1967, no more than 55,000 Palestinians have immigrated to Israel through marriage. Some two years ago, the government decided to block completely these marriages. This emergency regulation is now under scrutiny by the High Court of Justice.

Another trend is to implement a more stringent immigration policy in the form of a law that would prevent the naturalization of foreign workers who have married Israelis and of spouses of Jewish Israelis who have fallen in love with non-Jews. This type of stringency would affect only a small percentage of the population. Its supporters take heart from a similar law legislated recently in Denmark.

While Sharon and the National Security Council are leading the demographic scare campaign, primarily for reason of security and demography, Justice Minister Tzipi Livni fears for a change in the Jewish character of Israeli society. Livni is worried about the hundreds and thousands of non-Jews who came in the wave of immigration from Russia and changed, as far as she sees it, the character of the state. She is seeking the adoption of more stringent conditions for the naturalization of non-Jews, and has no qualms either about making changes to the Law of Return.

The combination of these two trends could lead to legislation that would undermine civil rights.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/600593.html