1. The legislation does NOT apply to anyone who is currently a citizen. 2. The legislation is being amended to apply to ALL people who wish to become citizens (which shuts down the argument that it would be applied in a discriminatory manner). 3. The legislation does NOT require an applicant for citizenship to even state that they will become Jewish or Zionist, or even that they will act in a democratic manner themselves--all they are being asked to state is that they recognize that the country is both Jewish and democratic. As to Minister Lieberman, right now he's serving well as the stalking horse for those politically unable to state the truth--that there will never be peace until all parties recognize the democratic and Jewish essence of the country. I happen to be more pessimistic than the foreign minister, and think that "never" is closer to reality than his "many generations," but that's just me.

What do polls show re: public opinion of the loyalty oath? I bet you they show that at least 90% of Israelis approve of the loyalty oath legislation. So, that essentially means that approx. 10% of rather marginalized Leftists who are out-of-touch with the views of the vast majority of Israelis pretend to represent some Orwellian concept of what democracy means. We all know that the Left hides behind lots & ,lots of BS rhetoric, they don't care about ''democracy'' in any real sense of the word, they're basically elitists who think they have a right to impose their views, un-democratically, on everyone else. They make a lot of noise & the media always plays it up but the truth is that they represent almost no one. Anyway, you know what they're really afraid of? They're afraid that some of the legislation will cut off funds from foreign sources that finance the anti-Israel activities of anti-Zionist organizations. Real patriots, these Leftists!

I am sick and tired of all those jews who throw into the air words like FASCIST,NAZIi, AND OTHER SICKENIND titles toward Israel and some individuals, just because they disagree with some approach of the country, particularly toward arabs. They are ever-so readily compare Israel to nazi Germany. By doing so, they disgrace themselves and mainly, diminish the severity of the holocaust and worse, compare the 6,000,000 victims' suffering and systematic murdrers to those called "long suffering" or "frusrated""palistinians" who wish to finish what Hitlet could not. SHAME ON YOU, all those jews who even think that way.The victims would have loved to exchange places with you, and then let's see if you would use those "titles" toward Israel or fellow jews.

I fail to see what the problem is. Should one object to Israel's Jewish nature or to its democratic character, surely one would not demand to become a citizen. I for one chose to become Israeli dafka because it is The Jewish State and a democracy. And I was astonished It was not required of me that I pledge my loyalty to the State - in Hebrew. These lefties are no better than collaborationists. I wonder how they would fare under an islamic regime, even a moderate (?) one. No worries, if they have their way they'll soon know. As for me, I will not go quietly!

He speaks straight unlike the leftists who know that they are only a shrinking minority .....

The leftist elite has been holding this country at ransom for way to long....time for the people to decide!

and a fascist one at that with the likes of Liberman the rascist holding the reigns, we will not be told what we should or should not think, democratic country ? lol

and Lieberman will get 25

Lieberman is neither a racist nor a fascist. His critics have no problem in dehumanizing settlers and the ultra-orthodox and generally do so with ten-fold the bigotry they accuse Lieberman of. These people long ago lost all moral basis for feeling superior to Avet. Pity to waste the space on such miserable hypocrites.

Once you get beyond all the hysteria, there's no difference between this and the oath that anyone is required to swear in order to become a citizen of the United States. After all, it's not as if anyone is being forced to change their religion or to believe in any religion at all. In fact, there's nothing to stop someone who takes the oath from going home, shutting the door and yelling "Heil Hitler" or "F--k Israel" until they're blue in the face. So maybe it's time to put a stop to all the hyperbolic accusations of "racism" and "apartheid" and turn down volume.

Democracy is the art in knowing how to tell someone to go to hell in such a way that they look forward to the trip?

In a democracy the majority rules but these RADICAL ATHEIST LEFTISTS dont believe in democracy trying to force everyone to think like them(dictators)!

You say "90% of Israelis approve of the loyalty oath" but 25% are not Jewish and you say that "10% are lefties" I guess you mean of the Jewish population, since it seems that you don't think the non-Jewish voters matter. Sadly you maybe right since with Israel's style of Gov. only 51% of voters really matter.

not FM Lieberman.

in a very long time! but actually I was wondering isn't that the definition of diplomacy?

A lot of people here seem to think that if you talk tough then you are "strong". The truly strong do not need to put on false displays of "strength" because they know that they are strong. History has illustrated this time and again.

proportional representation and "lists" configured by party leaders is a poor electoral feature. Many, such as I, would like to go to a system of direct representation by region or some feature which would partially incorporate direct representation. To be sure, we still lack a constitution in which rights and obligations to the state are enshrined. On the other hand, Israel is a young country, sixty-two years old, which has undergone many upheavals including wars foisted upon us from external parties as well as extreme acts of terrorism from both within as well as without. Furthermore, we have continued to take in (Jewish) immigrants and sometimes in huge numbers, most recently Russians and Ethiopians. From the start, an overwhelming number of Jews were financially and psychologically impoverished, the latter due to the indescribable conditions in Europe from which they came and, in addition, the suffering which they were put through having been forced to leave their homes in Arab lands and build new lives in the young state of Israel When reviewed within context, it may be that not only the casual reader but even knowledgeable ones have expected too much, at least immediately, from the nation of Israel.

Because he speaks the truth? Because he recognizes the evil that lives among us, and isn't afraid to talk about it? I am so tired of the pseudo-liberal politically correct phonies ..... I'll take Lieberman over them ANY day ...

ure for 9 years before much longer anyway - if that doesn't wake them up to reality nothing will. What is 'fascist' about swearing a loyalty oath to YOUR country anyway??? This sickness that many Jews suffer from will determine whether they live or die. I do believe it is called Stockholm syndrome. ahMADJIHADi is going to bomb Tel Aviv before anywhere else! Has anybody in this crazed mob ever stopped to think about the lives of children, mothers, fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers lives in Sderot?

It should apply to ALL Israeli citizens - both ethnic Israelis/ethnic Jews and minorities. The law should apply BOTH to those who are citizens - Jews and non Jews, and those who aspire to become citizens - Jews and non Jews. The article says that some 6000 people protested against this law. I think those 6000 people - if we can call them people, must be stripped of their Israeli citizenship immediately and be kicked out of Israel. To recognize the identity and freedom of a country is the minimum requirement for social harmony and national unity and solidarity. These 6000 people are traitors. Kick them out of Israel.

That is called diplomacy not democracy. Democracy means the rule of the majority with protection of the rights of all. Hence this oath is the very embodiment of democracy.

The government that passed the Oslo accords had less than 50% of the popular vote, and just got lucky that they could build a coalition. The Prime Minister at the time (a Leftist) explicitly said that he only represented his voters and would ignore all the rest.

A democracy by the jewish people, for the jewish people....sounds good to me.

You are quite right Gee of Zikron Yaakov. That was a bad slip of a typing mistake. Diplomacy I really meant and not democracy

What a stupid cop out non-argument. Israel for Israelis!!!

If Netanyahu didn't need Lieberman to stay in power, there is no way he would sanction this proposal. Therefore, as has been said before, It is another example of Netanyahu's lust for power ( and staying in power), so much so that he is prepared to compromise on his principles, and cause the deepest rift possible in the fabric of the nation thereby weakening Israel and her interests. I am an ardent Zionist, made Aliya 28 years ago and have dedicated my life to the Zionist cause. And I say that this law does more harm than good. Lieberman is like a rabid dog who has tasted human blood and can no longer live without it. He is out of control and drunk on his own power. He must be stopped before we all suffer for his populist, oversimplified and racist policies. We could not ask for a worse foreign minister. Shame on Netanyahu for appointing him!

For your correction.

Lieberman is a dangerous demagogue. He must be stopped now! There is no doubt in my mind that his objective is to be the PM himself - he is already acting as such.