Two things about Israel “get to” me. Well OK, more than two, but two specifically that to me symbolize lack of Western values and quality of life: 1) No public transportation on the Sabbath. Try exiting Jerusalem on a Saturday night; it’s like Escape From Alcatraz; 2) The first thing I notice about Arab-populated areas is that the kids always seem to be playing in weedy vacant lots; where are the playgrounds? Lack of playgrounds is the visual hallmark of an underserved population.
Therefore, after reading of the disgraceful proposal that “non-Jewish”* candidates for Israeli citizenship be required to swear an oath of allegiance to a “Jewish, democratic state”, I decided that if ever citizens are ever required to sign a loyalty oath, I will say, “Fine. You want me to swear allegiance? No problem. I will sign this document”, and will take out a red pen and amend the oath to read:
“…Jewish[1] …democratic[2]”
[1]- As per the definition: A country wherein public transportation operates seven days a week, 365 days a year
[2] - A country wherein a minimum of one dunam of European-standard playground area, with safe, functioning equipment, is available to every 50 children under the age of 10, within a kilometer radius of their places of residence.
If as a result, my citizenship is revoked, you'll find me at Ben-Gurion Airport wearing a t-shirt that reads יהודים לא מגרשים יהודים! [“Jews don’t deport Jews!”].
*Whatever that means, since we haven’t managed to decided what a Jew actually is
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YYbYZhL, I was thinking about this this a.m., and more and more I agree with your postulation about "what is a person who lives in Israel? An Israeli", regardless of hizzer ethnicity. So I would have no problem if all candidates for citizenship had to swear loyalty "to Israel". Period. No adjectives, i.e., neither "Jewish", "Democratic", or "polka-dotted".
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