Israeli Knesset proposes ‘loyalty pledge’; Arab MKs brand move racist

Tuesday November 06, 2007 05:00 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Arab MKs on Monday branded a bill currently being considered by the Israeli Knesset as 'racist', arguing that the law deliberately targets Arab sections of the Israeli population.

The bill in question would require all those applying for Israeli citizenship to take a so-called 'loyalty pledge' to the 'Jewish' state.

As proposed, the text of the pledge reads as follows:

"I hereby pledge my loyalty to the State of Israel as a Jewish, Zionist and democratic state, its symbols and values, and serve the country, as shall be required of me, in the IDF [Israeli Defense Force, or Army]."

Representatives of the Arab-Israeli population of Israel, which consists of those Palestinians who remained in Israel when the state was created in 1948, and constitutes approximately 20% of the population, on Monday branded the bill as anti-Arab and racist.

“This is another bill proposed by extreme-rightist MKs whose goal is to tie the basic right for citizenship with a nonconsensual ideological statement. I won't be surprised when the day comes that factories will be obligated to put the flag of Israel and the slogan 'Jewish, democratic state' on canned food, yogurt containers, and traditional Arab olive-press. We have had enough of this populist, racist trend," MK Ahmed Tibi stated.

In response to such accusations, right-wing MK Rotem argued that the bill was unremarkable, and a loyalty pledge was something demanded by most modern countries.

"The connection between citizenship and loyalty is unbreakable. During the last several years it became clear that Israeli citizens are not always loyal to the State, its symbols and values, and evade the duty of army or national service."

Also included in the bill is the right of the interior minister to revoke the citizenship of a person who does not comply with the duty to serve in the military or National Service.

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