Israeli cabinet ratifies controversial loyalty oath
The Israeli cabinet Knesset has voted in favour of legislation that would require candidates for Israeli citizenship to pledge loyalty to the Jewish and democratic state of Israel.
Leaders of Israel’s Arab minority have condemned the naturalization oath — which does not apply to Jews, who are granted citizenship automatically on immigration under a Law of Return — as racist.
Anyone who asks to receive Israeli citizenship through naturalization will declare that he will be a citizen loyal to the state of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told reporters. That is the essence of Zionism and the state of Israel, he said before the amendment was approved in a 22-8 vote by his cabinet. The legislation must be ratified by parliament to become law.
Some commentators said Netanyahu’s backing might have been aimed at securing the support of Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, for future peace moves with the Palestinians.
US Wants Iran Sanctions Within Weeks
February 9, 2010 by Trend PK
Filed under Breaking News
PARIS: US Defense Secretary Robert Gates wants to see the United Nations slap sanctions on Iran in “weeks, not months.”
Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell told reporters Tuesday that Gates “clearly thinks time is of the essence.”
Gates is returning to Washington after spending a week in Europe. In Paris on Monday he met with French President Nicolas Sarkozy. Gates also met with NATO officials in Istanbul to discuss Afghanistan, including ways to address a shortfall of 4,000 military trainers.
Morrell says Gates believes a U.N. resolution would lay the legal groundwork countries need to impose sanctions independently and pressure Iran to abandon its nuclear program.
US Wants Iran Sanctions Within Weeks was first posted on February 9, 2010 at 3:58 pm.
