Call for Action Against The Proposed ' Jewish- State Loyalty Oath ' in Israel

Australian Human Rights Commission
Attn: Honorary Catherine Branson QC
Level 8, Piccadilly Tower
133 Castlereagh Street
SYDNEY NSW 2000


Dear Honorary Catherine Branson QC,

I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the amendment to the Citizenship Act, which will demand that new citizens of Israel to pledge loyalty to a Jewish, democratic state. According to the UN, Human Rights Watch, Israel is considered to be the occupying power of the Gaza Strip as Israel controls Gaza's airspace and territorial waters, and does not allow the movement or goods in or out of Gaza by air or sea (Amnesty International, 2009.)

I urge you to immediately withdraw your support from this anti-democratic legislation.

Avishai Braverman, Minister of Minority Affairs of Israel, noted, "this is an infuriating, irresponsible decision which will only fuel the fires of de-legitimization against Israel worldwide."

This loyalty-oath, means NO democracy based on:

- Supporting an amendment to the Citizenship Act, mandating that all aspiring citizens be required to pledge loyalty to a Jewish, democratic state.

- A loyalty oath based on religious identity, NOT a multicultural society.

Non-Jews applying for Israeli citizenship will have to pledge the following oath of loyalty: I swear that I will be a loyal citizen to the state of Israel, as a Jewish and democratic state, and will uphold its laws.

Jews, who can apply for citizenship automatically, are exempt from the new loyalty oath.

No multicultural society can survive by insisting that ethnic minorities pledge fealty, not to the state in which they live, but to the majority culture.

- After the initial vote on Sunday (in which approval of the bill seems likely), the debate will then continue in the Knesset's legislative committee and finally go to a full Knesset vote.

- Prior attempts to pass similar legislation have been highly controversial, especially for Israeli Arabs, who make up approximately 20\% of Israel's population.

- Make no mistake: instituting a loyalty oath to a "Jewish state" is the next dangerous step in allowing a coalition of ultra-nationalists and ultra-Orthodox with a stranglehold on the Netanyahu government to define who is Jewish, who is Israeli, who is loyal. Not to mention, that this will also spark an array of violent acts by the supporters of numerous extremist organisations around the world.

As a staunch supporter of democracy, I cannot sit idly by, while Israel's proud democratic traditions are eroded. Such steps are only likely to further segregate an already turbulent society.

In fact, organisations, politicians and governments around the globe are joining forces to support the call for action against the amendment,including 'Jews for Justice for Palestinians' and Ahmed Tibi, an Israeli-Arab member of the Knesset, the uni-cameral body of legislature in Israel.


I hope I can count on you to prove your commitment to equality and pluralistic democracy by immediately withdrawing your support from this radical change to Israel's citizenship requirements.