In the continuing efforts to increase Israel's demographic advantage over the Arabs in Israel, some feel that the way to go is not necessarily by increasing the number of Jews - but by outnumbering the number of Arabs. Some Jewish Agency officials have apparently adopted that position, by encouraging Russian aliyah (immigration to Israel) among non-Jews who are eligible to immigrate by virtue of the Law of Return - and now Interior Minister Avraham Poraz seems to have adopted it as well.
Poraz granted citizenship today to ten non-Jewish soldiers, under a new Interior Ministry ruling entitling one-year army veterans to Israeli citizenship. He said that non-Jewish soldiers serving in the army "are several times better than Jews who do not serve in the IDF and who contribute nothing to the country." He said that their parents would also be granted citizenship.
In addition, Poraz has a plan to grant either citizenship or permanent-residency status to the children of foreign workers who reach the age of 18 and plan to serve in the army. Until now, such children were routinely considered illegal aliens. Shas party leader MK Eli Yeshai expressed adamant opposition to the plan, adding sharp words against the coalition member National Religious Party for not objecting publicly to Poraz's plan. The NRP has found itself embroiled in a number of controversies with Shinui since the two joined the same government two months ago. NRP sources say that so far, Shinui has lost the vast majority of the battles.
Poraz granted citizenship today to ten non-Jewish soldiers, under a new Interior Ministry ruling entitling one-year army veterans to Israeli citizenship. He said that non-Jewish soldiers serving in the army "are several times better than Jews who do not serve in the IDF and who contribute nothing to the country." He said that their parents would also be granted citizenship.
In addition, Poraz has a plan to grant either citizenship or permanent-residency status to the children of foreign workers who reach the age of 18 and plan to serve in the army. Until now, such children were routinely considered illegal aliens. Shas party leader MK Eli Yeshai expressed adamant opposition to the plan, adding sharp words against the coalition member National Religious Party for not objecting publicly to Poraz's plan. The NRP has found itself embroiled in a number of controversies with Shinui since the two joined the same government two months ago. NRP sources say that so far, Shinui has lost the vast majority of the battles.