Interior Minister Eli Yeshai demands a change to the Law of Return, in order to make it harder for non-Jews to be eligible for automatic immigration rights to Israel. Yeshai says that 70% of the immigrants who arrived during the past year are not Jewish. \"According to the law, however,\" he said, \"they are legally eligible to immigrate because they either have one Jewish grandparent, are married to someone who is eligible, or are the close relatives of someone married to someone who is eligible.\"
The Knesset Immigration Committee discussed Yeshai\'s proposal today in what Arutz-7 Knesset correspondent Haggai Seri called a \"surprisingly calm\" session. \"Israel is turning into a country of immigration.\" Yeshai said. \"It is happening not necessarily by law-breaking, but via loopholes in the Law of Return itself. For instance, a non-Jew whose grandfather was Jewish, or a non-Jew who married a Jew, can immigrate to Israel, bringing his or her parents, children from a previous marriage, etc.\"
Jewish Agency head Salai Meridor told the Committee that the law must not be changed, lest it deliver a \"slap in the face to the world Jewish community.\" He said that now, when we need the support of world Jewry, is not the time to suddenly change the Law of Return. Meridor emphasized, however, that the Jewish Agency strives to strengthen Jewish identity, \"including conversion [to Judaism] for those who want.\" Several MKs, including some from the former Soviet Union, are against a change for fear that it will decrease immigration and bring about an Arab majority in the region; the religious MKs are in favor of a change.
The Knesset Immigration Committee discussed Yeshai\'s proposal today in what Arutz-7 Knesset correspondent Haggai Seri called a \"surprisingly calm\" session. \"Israel is turning into a country of immigration.\" Yeshai said. \"It is happening not necessarily by law-breaking, but via loopholes in the Law of Return itself. For instance, a non-Jew whose grandfather was Jewish, or a non-Jew who married a Jew, can immigrate to Israel, bringing his or her parents, children from a previous marriage, etc.\"
Jewish Agency head Salai Meridor told the Committee that the law must not be changed, lest it deliver a \"slap in the face to the world Jewish community.\" He said that now, when we need the support of world Jewry, is not the time to suddenly change the Law of Return. Meridor emphasized, however, that the Jewish Agency strives to strengthen Jewish identity, \"including conversion [to Judaism] for those who want.\" Several MKs, including some from the former Soviet Union, are against a change for fear that it will decrease immigration and bring about an Arab majority in the region; the religious MKs are in favor of a change.