Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has backed a citizenship oath.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided Wednesday to ask his ministers to debate – and approve – an amendment to the Citizenship Act, mandating that all aspiring citizens would be required to pledge their allegiance not only to Israel, but to a “Jewish, democratic” Israel.
Netanyahu is in fact endorsing a similar amendment proposed by Justice Minister Yaakov Ne’eman and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
“Israel is the Jewish people’s homeland,” the prime minister explained. “It is so in its essence, in its government, its symbols, holidays and language, and that should be reflected by its Citizenship Act.
“Israel is a democratic country that afford full civil equality to all its citizens.This principle has always guided government policies, both domestic and foreign, and is a cornerstone of Israeli legislation.
“This principle is expressed in the term ‘Jewish and democratic’ and will be included in the pledge of allegiance taken by those wishing to become citizens.”
The Prime Minister’s Office said the matter should have no bearing on the peace talks with the Palestinians, since Israel’s first prerequisite in the negotiations is for recognition as the Jewish state.
Yeah, about that last point.
Labor party ministers angered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s snap decision to back a controversial citizenship loyalty oath said late Wednesday that they expected a new freeze in settlement building as a payoff.
Updates (Israel time; most recent at top)
6:06PM: Introducing our latest weapon: Zionist Death Moth.TM
Notice the blame Israel game from 1:02 onwards, including the suggestion from 1:18 onwards that Israel is allowing the UN to bring in traps to stop the moths only because we are ourselves worried, and not as a gesture to palestinians.
5:56PM: Meet the grandpa from hell:
Palestinian police detained a 51-year-old Hebron man after his 12-year-old grandaughter told police he had tried several times to kill her.
The last incident, the girl told police, was an attempt to push her in front of a truck, and followed several beatings she said brought her close to death.
A medical examination revealed that the young girl had small fractures and bruises all over her body, indicative of long-term abuse.
She said she had moved into her grandfather’s home after she suffered severe beatings from her step-mother and did not know where to turn. After some months in the man’s residence, she explained, he no longer wanted her there and began trying to “get rid of her.”
5:15PM: A quick look at concentration camp Gaza (hat tip: Giyusgirl).
12:30PM: With all the negative publicity arising from current and former IDF soldiers doing idiotic things on YouTube and Facebook (prompting this response from the Prime Minister), the IDF does not need this.
Ian Benardo ain’t backing down from his $100 million lawsuit against “American Idol”– in fact, he’s so serious … dude is comparing the “Idol” legal ambush to terrorist attacks he survived as an Israeli soldier.
Dude just fired off a letter to the judge in the case claiming, “As a soldier who served in the Israeli Army and survived two suicide bombings, I hold equality close to my heart and won’t back down due to intimidation.”
As we previously reported — Benardo is suing “Idol,” claiming the show’s producers “exploited” his sexual orientation by asking him to “gay it up” on national TV … and “Idol” is fighting to dismiss the case.
If you do not know why this is bad for the IDF, I present exhibit A.
Meanwhile, here is a photo of Benardo in his IDF uniform.
9:00AM: According to the latest poll conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PSR) in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip between 30 September and 2 October 2010, a majority (51%) supported Hamas’ attacks on Jews in late August/early September which resulted in 4 people being killed (including a pregnant woman). 44% opposed it. In addition, public support for the PA security crackdown on Hamas in the aftermath of the attack did not exceed 20%, with 76% opposing it.
6:04AM: Earlier this morning, the IAF reportedly struck three targets in Gaza, wounding three people.
One of the targets seems to have been a Hamashole training base.
5:55AM: Interview with former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar on his “Friends of Israel” initiative.
