A racist, wicked policy | Why does State ignore law and expel non-Jewish partners of Jews who passed away? | Shulamit Aloni | Published: 12.13.07, 08:02 / Israel Opinion

A family where one partner is Jewish and the other one isn’t decides to move to Israel and settle there. They leave their place of work, sell the home, bid friends and relatives farewell, and move here. On the basis of the Law of Return both have the same rights as any other immigrant, headed by the right to be granted citizenship.

Yet the interior Ministry decided to twist this principle, and created separation between the two partners. The Jewish partner, the one whose mother is Jewish, is granted citizenship. The other partner must face tests of time and bureaucracy until he or she are granted citizenship, which sometimes takes more than five years after moving to Israel.

But we had some cases where the Jewish partner passed away while the widowed partner has not yet been granted citizenship or all the other rights given to an immigrant by the Interior Ministry. And then, the Jewish State’s Interior Ministry gladly rushes to expel the “gentile” from Israel. He or she has already been denied citizenship, and now that they no longer have a Jewish partner comes the order: Get out!

But out where? Where would the widowed partner left without their Jewish partner go? There is no job, no home, everything was given up before the move to Israel, to the great promise. But in Israel, who cares about the fate of widowed people when they’re gentiles? ...
- posted by Editor @ 5:19 PM

A celebration for Jews only | By Ehud Asheri | Dec 17, 2007, 17:33

As things look at the moment, the festivities marking the 60th anniversary of Israel's independence will be held for the country's Jewish citizens only. The Arab community leaders have informed Ruhama Avraham, the minister in charge of the celebrations, that they are planning to boycott the events planned for the Arab sector.

If the boycott is implemented, it will be a personal slap in the face for Avraham after all her enticements to the Arab leaders, but that's nothing compared to the public slap in the face for Israeli democracy - on the very day it had planned to celebrate the unity of all sectors.

The problem is that the state has only itself to blame. For 59 years it has discriminated against the Arab population (about half of which lives below the poverty line), treating it as a "strategic threat" and attacking its leaders. Now, as it enters its 60th year, it is trying to convince the Arab populace to join the Independence Day party. ...
- posted by Editor @ 5:17 PM

Christmas tree isn’t Jewish | People who celebrate Christmas should not be moving to Israel under Law of Return | Yossi Paritzky | Published: 12.26.07, 10:31 / Israel Opinion

Never before have so many trees been sold in Israel ahead of Christmas. Once upon a time, not too long ago, they were sold only in areas where Israel’s Christian minority resides, in Haifa, Abu Ghosh, and east Jerusalem. Today, we can find them at Tel Aviv’s Carmel Market, at supermarket stores in Rishon LeZion, and at chains in Nazareth Elite and Netanya.

The buyers are no longer the State of Israel’s Christian citizens, but rather, mostly Israelis who moved here from the former Soviet Union and from Eastern Europe under the Law of Return, and are now openly celebrating the birthday of the Christian savior.

I am not a religious Jew and I do not live my life based on Jewish law. I am a Zionist Jew who lives in Israel because of my appreciation and love of Jewish culture. In my view, Judaism is not a religion, or mostly not a religion, but rather, a culture and nationality. I speak the language of the Bible, and I live in a country where Jews aspired to live for hundreds of years in political independence. ..
- posted by Editor @ 4:49 PM