Israeli Cabinet Approves of Loyalty Oaths
The Jerusalem Post reports:
The oath of allegiance proposal that passed in Sunday’s cabinet meeting will be just the first of many such bills to be advanced during the Knesset’s winter session, which begins on Monday, Israel Beiteinu and Shas officials vow.
Interior Minister Eli Yishai (Shas) said on Sunday night he would act to legislate a bill that would allow his ministry to remove citizenship from people who joined Hamas, Hizbullah and other terrorist organizations.
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman (Israel Beiteinu) said he will advance a bill requiring 16-year-olds to sign a declaration of loyalty to Israel and Zionism when they apply for an identity card.
“Israel Beiteinu will continue working to advance the values it believes in and to ensure that there will not be citizenship without loyalty,” the party said in a statement following Sunday’s vote.
At the other end of the political map, Labor ministers Isaac Herzog and Avishay Braverman promised to do everything possible to prevent the loyalty oath and other such proposals from becoming law. But they both stopped short of threatening to resign from the cabinet.
“I am sure that with a public struggle, we could change this decision, and I hope we will stand strong against it,” Herzog said following the vote.
Click here to read more.
