in the absence of a finalized peace deal where the enemies of democracy want to infiltrate the country with anti-democratic goals via the so-called "right-of-return", this is unfortunate but reasonable. actually, the biggest threat to democracy in israel are the islamic factions, laden with their anti-democratic values and religious-based fascism, who want to use the openness and principles of democracy to undermine it for the purpose of regaining a majority and do through and under the framework of the rule of law what they are not able to achieve by force. look at the charters of the PLO and hamas, etc, it's all right there in black and white. they don't want democracy, they want to conquer by whatever means necessary. and this is why this legislation is the lesser of two evils.

...with only 40% of the total population in Palestine Israel, with 5.6 million Jews, and 8.5 million native Palestinians.

Good!

This is the very best news and certainly a step forward. There are NO Palestinians alive today who VOLUNTARILY left their homes and expected their "leaders" to destroy Israel. Instead, Israel built a modern democratic state that contributes to the world while those that seek to destroy Israel are merely parasites. MAZEL TOV P.M. NETANYAHU

........this really can't be serious. Is the government suggesting that those who do not aspire to a particular religion but want to be citizens of Israel (for whatever reason) should have to swear allegience to a particular religious aspect of the state? And those who do, don't have to? This is ridiculous. Remember that most of the "first world" regards being Jewish as a religious affiliation and not as belonging to a specific nation. So are we a part of the international community or are we not?

all animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others....such is life on the farm when you are struggling to be accepted/

we were a nation before we got the torah. (contrary to the haredi rhetoric that we became a nation at Sinai.) This is why we have secular Jews and so on. besides we see what is happening in Europe and with all the Sudanis entering Israel we better have a plan to remain a suicidal Jewish State. Otherwise we will end up just a suicidal state of "all" our citizens. And in that case why not just give the "Palestinians" without Israeli citizenship a vote?

that´s a way countries must use to show it´s jews Israel is not a jew state.

Just the fact that the oath is required of all non-Jews, makes it racist. In essence, this pathetic law will enable Neturai Karta Israel haters into Israel without question while humiliating non-Jewish people who avidly support Israel.

Exposes your lack of self esteem,...

that Partition Talks core issues have already been agreed upon with the Americans. One of those core issues may be the return of some Arab refugees. The Olmert/Livni team had secretly agreed with the US to the return of a certain number of them. Netanyahu may have already conceded to accept the same number. So this bill may be aimed at calming down Israelis, by promising that citizenship and voting rights won't be automatic for those Arabs - and that before they obtain it, they would have to swear allegiance to the Jewish state, which we know is rather unlikely. I'M VERY SUSPICIOUS because it is OUT OF CHARACTER for this government to do anything that is pro-Jewish. There's got to be another reason for this bill.

Its about time for such bill to pass. Let's add the "Israeli" arab members of the Kenesset who actually represent Hamas, to the bill. Also try every one who betrays Israel for treason and not give them a penny in "pension" for their past "services" to Israel !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By time this Law comes into effect. The Arabs lose no opportunity of showing us their allegiance to a Palestinian state. Examples: waving Palestinian flags, proclaiming Land Day, declarations by their elected representatives in the Israeli Knesset, declaration of the creation of the State of Israel as their Holocaust. The day of judgment has arrived. Take your pick!

Will Saudia Arabia? Will Egypt, Syria, Oman, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait etc etc?? NO. What If I want to build a big Jewish house of worship? NO What if I want to be treacherous and steer the country from being Muslim to being Jewis or Christian? NO. Israels treatment of non Jews is exponentially better than arabs treatement of non arabs and non muslims. Ask the copts of egypt for proff, the maronites of hizbulebanon, the assyrians of Iraq, the christians of Aza.......................the Jews of Iran..................

to relegate Arabs to Dhimmi status and make them pay Jizyah to Israel

all new citizens in USA must pledge allegiance to the flag and swear to fight for the USA in case of war, 2 extra things needed for basic democracy in Israel! all Arab countries deny Palestinians citizenship, only Israel allows them in, they should at least be loyal!

Do you remember the "Pledge of Allegiance" in the U.S.A.? or are you against it. Your political correctness and multiculturalism trash is driving you crazy.

to keep the flames of hatred and violence going. The country is falling apart and the only thing the government can offer is more provocations against the Arabs. Israel is neither a Jewish state nor a democracy. People do not keep Torah, and do whatever they want to do. They are taught that chutzpah and a machinegun is all you need. There is no constitution and no accountability in government to the people of Israel. What kind of democracy is that? Israelis need to wake up.

The pledge of allegiance makes no reference to religion. It does include the phrase "one nation, under G-d..." but the reference to G-d is optional (it was even removed for a period of time in the 60's). The oath all new USA citizens must take, also does not have any reference to religion. Loyalty to one's nation should not depend upon one's religion.

are you expecting another fall of Russia? NK Jews don't have to take the oath?

There are dozens of ethnic nation states across Europe, Central Asia, Middle East and East Asia and all states require loyalty and even some Western democracies such as Australia and USA require an OATH OF LOYALTY. It's because Israel is the homeland of the Jewish people that you left wingers and Jew haters oppose the bill. You would demand and oath of loyalty to the ethnic identity of Iran, Arab states or Turkey, knowing fully well that these countries contain minorities. But your problem is only with the Jews. Discriminatory treatment of Jews based on their race, ethnicity, nationality and culture is called anti-Semitism. The bill should be extended to all citizens of Israel - Jews and non Jews. The Labor party are traitors and must be expelled from MY country.

If I am not mistaken don't prospective US citizens have to take a Citizenship test then make an alleigance to the flag ? Israel is firstly a Jewish democratic state , people wishing to become citizens should be expected to express a loyalty

#2 Steve. "8.5 million Arabs in Israel". What drugs are you on? While you're fantasizing, why not pretend there are 100 million Arabs in Israel? In actual fact, Jews are a rapidly growing majority in Israel, including Judea and Samaria. This has been proven by many highly credible American and Israeli studies.

One can not pledge for something that does not exists. This state is neither Democratic nor Jewish. Its basic set up is still based on the Socialist Russian system which one can see by its committee steered party system, for were there is no accountability by its chosen members towards its public. Although many Jewish people do live here. The state itself is an Atheist entity, which with help of a court system that is not based on Halagic(Jewish) laws at all, will keep on promoting the so-called Israeli identity and suppress its Jewish roots. Its founders wanted to be like all the other nations and by doing so gave up on its true rights to our land. Instead of wasting time on some empty worded law, maybe the state could for once put some effort into stopping rockets falling on its citizens. It is the state that should pledge to uphold its basic responsibilities towards its citizens and promote a just justice system. DAVID , JUDEA (10.10.10)

the end of a democratic israel has arrived .Thanks to lieberman ,bibi and the right wing

Every single modern nation requires new citizens to perform an oath of allegiance to the country. Why would you give citizenship to a traitor?! This has nothing to do with democracy. Nobody says "this kind of opinion is the Jewish opinion" or "this kind of opinion is the democratic opinion". You can take the oath and be a leftist or you can take the oath and be a rightist. So why is this fascist?! Go to the US and say "I hate America and want to kill Americans" and God help you get citizenship there. If you somehow already had citizenship, America has laws against sedition. treason, etc. I suppose America is fascist too?! I wonder why Obama and Clinton haven't weighed in on this if its undeniably reprehensible?!