The four ministers of the Shas Party, as well as Foreign Minister Tzippy Livny - a former Immigration Minister - voted against the proposal. Eighteen ministers supported it.
Minister Eli Yishai, leader of the Shas Party and a Deputy Prime Minister, was sharply critical of the decision. "This is the end of the Jewish State," he said. "It's not a humanistic matter [as it has been portrayed], but rather an 'explosives vest' in terms of our image, economy, society and Jewishness. We are on a slippery slope leading to the loss of our identity." Yishai said, however, that Shas had stood "like a fortified wall" against the intention to make it even easier for foreign citizens to become Israelis.
MK Zevulun Orlev (National Religious Party) said, "This was a populist decision that will be 'weeping for generations.' The compromise proposal reached in the previous government [between the NRP and the anti-religious Shinui Party] balanced between ethical and humanistic values, on the one hand, and the need to deal with the problems of Israeli children and making sure not to turn the State of Israel into a state of all the world's citizens. The decision today exposes the State to the danger of citizenship for illegal Palestinian aliens."
Parents and Children
Children whose parents entered the country legally, who are over 14 years old, and who lived here at least six consecutive years will be eligible for permanent residency. In addition, their parents, even if they are now in the country illegally, will also be allowed to remain. So said Interior Minister Roni Bar-On to Voice of Israel Radio today. "It would not be humanitarian to separate between the children and their parents," Bar-On explained.
On the issue of continuing Kassam rockets at the Israeli city of Sderot, the government did not discuss or approve a military ground entry into Gaza to stop the Kassam rockets, as some experts have recommended. It did approve, however, the Defense Ministry plan to reinforce the communities adjacent to Gaza to Kassam attack. The roofs of schools and nurseries in Sderot will be first, and work will begin tomorrow.
Minister Eli Yishai, leader of the Shas Party and a Deputy Prime Minister, was sharply critical of the decision. "This is the end of the Jewish State," he said. "It's not a humanistic matter [as it has been portrayed], but rather an 'explosives vest' in terms of our image, economy, society and Jewishness. We are on a slippery slope leading to the loss of our identity." Yishai said, however, that Shas had stood "like a fortified wall" against the intention to make it even easier for foreign citizens to become Israelis.
MK Zevulun Orlev (National Religious Party) said, "This was a populist decision that will be 'weeping for generations.' The compromise proposal reached in the previous government [between the NRP and the anti-religious Shinui Party] balanced between ethical and humanistic values, on the one hand, and the need to deal with the problems of Israeli children and making sure not to turn the State of Israel into a state of all the world's citizens. The decision today exposes the State to the danger of citizenship for illegal Palestinian aliens."
Parents and Children
Children whose parents entered the country legally, who are over 14 years old, and who lived here at least six consecutive years will be eligible for permanent residency. In addition, their parents, even if they are now in the country illegally, will also be allowed to remain. So said Interior Minister Roni Bar-On to Voice of Israel Radio today. "It would not be humanitarian to separate between the children and their parents," Bar-On explained.
On the issue of continuing Kassam rockets at the Israeli city of Sderot, the government did not discuss or approve a military ground entry into Gaza to stop the Kassam rockets, as some experts have recommended. It did approve, however, the Defense Ministry plan to reinforce the communities adjacent to Gaza to Kassam attack. The roofs of schools and nurseries in Sderot will be first, and work will begin tomorrow.