Opinion
Abolish Law of Return
Yaron London
Published: 05.03.07, 21:27
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1. Lost of Law of Return
Sam Weinstein ,   USA   (03.05.07)
would mean that Israel would not be a Jewish State and would lose the support of Jews around the world and the start of a ressistance movement would occurr to reverse any changes that are made to revoke it. We should make it easier for Non Jews and Jews to be Jewish but no to give up our country.
2. Mr.London, either you are nuts or a traitor
Judah ,   Golan Heights,ISRAEL   (03.05.07)
3. Kahane also sympathized with the Arabs
Mike ,   Atlanta, USA   (03.05.07)
He understood that you cannot maintain a Law of Return in the presence of a growing Arab minority. Abolish the law and then redistribute wealth away from your growing economic sectors. Then you can have cultural AND economic decline! You'll probably need both before any real political change can take place. As all that happens, the Law of Return will always apply in New York City :)
4. Change the Law of Return
Kyle ,   Southpark, CO, USA   (03.05.07)
Change the definition of who is Jewish to conform to Judaism and not Hitler.
5. I propose we send this shmo off in a boat
Al   (03.05.07)
for 6 weeks all the way to his beloved golus. Then when he'll get his ass kicked he'll come back and we'll tell him..."No ROOM for you in the INN" Dumb nut!
6. Such a B.S argument... Jewish persecution....
Joe ,   USA   (03.05.07)
why they "live" such comfortable lives in Yeman and other Arab "friendly" countries such as Jordan... Give them rights to return, and you will be swimming in the sea... Wise up.
7. YOUR COUNTRY SAM???
Jewish CANADIAN ,   Toronto Canada   (03.05.07)
Then MOVE there Sir.MY Country is Canada. If yours is Israel then WHY are you here? Any Jew who believes that Israel is THEIR country should MOVE there!The VAST majority of Canadaian.American and British Jews consider Israel as a FOREIGN country. As of course it is.
8. absurd
Michael   (03.05.07)
There are 120 nations in the world. The Jews have been kicked out of Europe and Parts of Asia and the middle east. the Non-Jews have a 119 countries to be citizens. Is that not enough?! Do non-Jews need to fear progroms from jews?! The jews have a right to live in a Jewish state Israel. If people have a problem with it, then don't live here. No one is forcing anyone to move to Israel. I think the author needs to bring his head down from above the clouds and brush up on history. It amazing the Jewish people havea 3,000 year history and yet part of their own people suffer from "Historical Amenisia".
9. He' s RIGHT. The Law of Return is FOOLISH
(03.05.07)
10. Nothing wrong with the law of return
George W ,   Chicago IL   (03.05.07)
I'm not sure I get why Israel has to ditch the law of return. Every country has certain preferences in immigration. Israel has adopted a special mission to be, in essence, a "shelter of last resort" for Jews. I'm all for ending the discrimination against Israeli Arabs, but it's hard to see how the law of return hurts them. If you want to favor these people over those people in immigration that's fine; just treat everyone equally once they are in Israel. On the other hand, there are some pretty dubious "Jews" walking around Israel, several of which can be found in the Haifa harbor area on Friday nights drinking like fish with big crosses around their necks and speaking Russian. If you want to tighten up on that type of immigration that's understandable.
11. The Zionist dream is finished.
bill handel ,   brooklyn, ny   (03.05.07)
As I read your article, I couldn't help thinking: "So, this is what it has come to! The State needs bodies--any bodies at all--to offset the demographic reality of Arab proliferation in the midst of Zionist stagnation.--What an ending to the great Zionist dream!
12. Are there Saudi Infidels?
Mike ,   London   (03.05.07)
I don't see any debate for non Muslims becoming Iranian or Saudi citizens.
13. ISRAEL - A NEW AMERICA ....
Andrew ,   Miami,fl   (03.05.07)
INVITE ALL WHO ARE DISPOSSED AND DOWNTRODDEN TO JOIN IN THE RENEWAL SHARE ZIONISM !! HEY...IT WORKED FOR THE CHRISTIANS...
14. WHAT'S WRONG IN A LAW FOR BALANCED ETHNICAL NATURAL GROWTH?
nelson stein ,   rio de janeiro   (03.05.07)
IT SEEMS SO NATURAL TO ME, WHO CAN'T STAND ANY KIND OF ETHNICAL DISCRIMINATION, THAT THERE SHOULD BE A LAW ALLOWING DIFFERENTIATED POLICIES AIMING TO EQUAL ARAB AND JEWISH BIRTH RATES, ONE BEING BOOSTED AND THE OTHER NOT. WE CLAIM EXCLUSIVE NATIONAL RIGHTS IN THE LAND OF ISRAEL AND THEREFORE WE HAVE STIMULATED SOLELY JEWISH INMIGRATION AND NOT ARAB! THIS IS NATIONAL POLICY AND RIGHT, IT'S PARTIAL AND FAVORS THE JEWISH PEOPLE. ON THE OTHER HAND I DON'T THINK LAWS AIMING THE BALANCED NATURAL GROWTHES OF THE TO NATIONALITIES COULD BE CONSIDERED UNFAIRS, RACISTS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT!
15. absurdity
commonsense   (03.05.07)
This idea of Y.London is either a farce or naivete. Anyway, it will serve us a boomerang.
16. #7 Jewish Canadian
Jane   (03.05.07)
OOOOOOOH, Sam pushed a button. The old dual loyalty button. OOOOOOOH, he made you nervous. Jewish Canadian. NOT Canadian Jew. For crying out loud, man, worry about the Islamofacists around you and leave poor, dear Sam alone.
17. The Law of Return is not an immigration law
Antonio ,   Haifa   (03.05.07)
It's the law of RETURN. There is no such thing as Jewish immigration to Israel, like there is no such thing as Italian immigration to Italy, or Irish immigration to Ireland.
18. THERE IS NOO SUCH DEMOGRAPHIC "THREAT"
David ,   Holon,Springhill,IL   (03.06.07)
Just look at the percentages of Muslim and Jews in 48 and in 2006, they havent changed AT ALL. The only thing you are truly worried about is that those Jews beyond the "green line" (Whatever that means) has such a higher percenage than you seculars. What you are truly worried about is those "settlers" from gaining power, WHICH THEY WILL. IT WILL BE DONE, all your "progressive" etc reforms WILL ALL BE REVOCKED AND OVERTURNED.
19. there needs to be one country that is partial to Jews
robert ,   potomac md usa   (03.06.07)
Therre needs to be one counrty that is partial and prejudiced in favor of Jews--of course the Law of the Return is far from perfect--it allows Russian neo Nazis in the coutnry just because one grandparent might have been Jewish--and it does not look to psecial case of non-Jews who have fought and suffered on behalf of Israel--but to turn Israel in to just another country--sorry, Yaron, you seem to have forgotten why there is an Israel in the first place. Whenb the Muslim countries erase the difference between Muslim and dhimmi and kufr--then we can start tinkering seriously7 with the Law of the Return--but doing so now, in the real world as it exists, would just make us a bunch of freiers--stupid suckers.
20. MR LONDON - WELL SAID
gabriela ben ari ,   jerusalem   (03.06.07)
"At least 300,000 people who belong to the non-Arab population, and an additional 160,000 foreign workers are not Jewish. Many of them, as well as many who are considered to be Jews according to Jewish law, have no affiliation whatsoever to Israeli culture, Jewish collective memory and society's hegemonic values. The national effort to convert those who wish to do so is dubious in principle and ineffective in practice; however, the vast majority of non-Jews are not interested in conversion anyway." hit the nail on the head
21. Immigration laws in other countries
Daniel ,   Formerly Israel   (03.06.07)
all go something like this. If you want to immigrate, you must apply for a visa, then come and live in the country on that visa for several years, meanwhile applying for permanent residency. And if permanent resedency status is granted you can apply for citizenship. The whole process takes about ten years. And as far as I know that's exactly how immigration for none-jews works in Israel. But seeing as Israel is a JEWISH state, and what's more the ONLY Jewish state in the world, I see no problem with Jews getting preferential treeatment in terms of citizenship; that's pretty much what "Jewish State" means.
22. #7
Ram ,   london   (03.06.07)
Any Jew that in his heart does not feel an allegiance with Israel cannot be a true Jew. I doubt many Jews, if any, would fight against Israel, should their country of residence go to war with Israel. Remember who you are and what Israel ultimately means to you as a Jew. You forget, at your peril, what happened prior to the Holocaust!
23. Ruth Gavison's proposal
Raffaele Ladu ,   Verona, Italy   (03.06.07)
AFAIK, Ruth Gavison proposed to amend the Law of Return in order to allow Jews from all over the world to become permanent residents in Israel, but they could only acquire citizenship only after they proved to master Hebrew, to know Israeli law and mores, and their allegiance to the state. I could be a good solution to both the peculiar humanitarian problem Diaspora Jews face (antisemitism is still alive and kicking), and to the clear favoritism Jews have over other non-Israelis in attaining citizenship. The paper put forth by the Higher Arabic Monitoring Committee also urged refugees for humanitarian reasons be allowed free entry to Israel - I could agree with that. By the way ... since Arabic is another official language in Israel, why not allow people who are nonetheless loyal to Israel and fit for citizenship to choose to display mastery in Arabic instead of Hebrew? Take care.
24. As soon is we have 22 countries.
Aaron Friedman ,   Delray Beach USA   (03.06.07)
When the Jews have 22 countries of their own as the Arabs do I would consider his proposal. until then I do not think the Jews in Israel want to be treated by a majority arabs as they treat the people of Darfur. Maybe this sho should paint himself black and go live under arab rule in darfur as part of his research into his idea..
25. Yaron London on abolishing Law of Return
Ralph Seliger ,   New York, USA   (03.06.07)
As argued by Letty Cottin Pogrebin in "The Nation" and reprinted in Meretz USA's "Israel Horizons" a few years ago, world Jewry requires Israel's Law of Return as a safe haven and insurance policy against persecution. The lack of such a place was a key component to the tragedy of the Holocaust. But there is no necessity, once Jews are granted entry as Jews, for Jewish immigrants to be hugely privileged over non-Jews living in Israel. Pogrebin argued against any advantages for Jewish olim; I don't know that I would go that far, but whatever privileges Jewish olim are granted over non-Jews should be examined and considered carefully.
26. to enable insane feelings into...
Atilla Karagözoğlu   (03.06.07)
to enable insane feelings into the politicians and law makers hearts will help to keep the great country. WHEN NON-JEWS WILL LOVE ISRAEL, THAT TIME WILL BE THE GREATEST TIME FOR WORLD. ========= Layla tov, my friends :) ======= I got to sleep, now. its 02.14 a.m. I got to wake up at 06.00 a.m. My Ynet took my two hours from me, tonight (great articles, well just a few, not that much :) I hate you My Ynetttttttt :)))
27. Yaron London Am Haaretz?
Boruch N. Hoffinger ,   Brooklyn NY   (03.06.07)
B"H This is the moral error of secular Zionists: A father leaves an inheritance to his children and then the children (possibly unknowingly) do as they wish against the father's wishes. Mr. London upon hearing such a tale might be upset at the behavior of the children—"callous children!" he might respond. Israel came to us through religious people; they are the true 'owners' of Israel, not the non-religious, if we want to distinguish the true owners (truly, Israel belongs to every Jew). Mr. London should sit down, learn some Torah, a find out who he is. Right now he definitely does not know himself. Form of neurosis; a personality disorder.
28. Two fundamental flaws in Mr. London's thinking
Noam ,   Boca Raton, FL   (03.06.07)
1.That the persecution of Jews in their countries of residence has to come to an end ETERNALLY -German Jews in 1932 thought that state sponsored Jew-hatred was a thing of the past in Europe, and I'm sure many Mizrahi Jews in Iraq and Egypt thought that Arab nationalism would surely include its Jewish residents in the new nation-state. History has shown Jews time and time again that experience in host countries is 100% fullproof of persecution and murder 2.That only non-Jews seeking improved economic opportunities wish to come to Israel today. -It is true that many Russians and some Ethiopians would fall under this category. But what about Bnai Menashe in India who wish to join (or rejoin) Am Yisrael in Eretz Yisrael? And of those Ethiopians who wre pressured to convert to Christianity but now with a Jewish state to support them and give them pride feel comfortable returning to their heritage? And it's not fair to the many wealthy but religious Jews in industrialized countries who wish to return to the land they consider theirs from religious perspectives. Nefesh B Nefesh is certaintly improving the Aliyah prospects for these people. T he right for Jews worldwide to live in the Jewish state is a debate that must include Diaspora Jewry Collectively only Jews should be allowed to immigrate. But individually, if a non Jewish person has worked in Israel or spent some time there and while wishing to remain his/her faith or heritage, then so long as he/she pledges allegiance to the state and will be loyal, he/she (and perhaps direct family) should be offered citizenship. An example of this is the distinguished Fayce, the Moroccan Muslim who seems to be permanently living in Tel Aviv now and has taken on an Israeli identity. Mr. London, you have no right to tell me that I cannot return to the land I consider my true Homeland. That I should accept the consequence of history being born in the USA and should have to stay there or in other liberal immigration policy countries. It would be a tragic mistake to deny the thousands of other Jews who think like me this right.
29. Mindboggling how the left want's to destroy us.
שילוה ,   ירושלים ,ישראל   (03.06.07)
It is so sad how hard the world, including the left wing want so hard to abolish anything Jewish in Israel. What the heck has gone wrong? What circuit breaker flipped. We are hitting the 50th level of tumah. Amazing how we do it again.
30. you gatta be nuts
eliezer ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (03.06.07)
If this is a Jewish state, let it be. but if you want a non-Jewish state import all the non-Jews expecially the muslims and walla, you will kill the Jewish state. Author is off a bit
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