Yisrael Beitenu, the party of foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman, is planning to propose legislation requiring residents to swear loyalty to the State of Israel. The party is seeking Cabinet approval for the bill before presenting it to the Knesset, a party spokesman said. Critics denounced the move as liable to hamper the rights of Arab citizens of Israel. The proposal was a key part of Yisrael Beitenu's campaign in February's general election. The cabinet is expected to discuss the bill next Sunday.
The bill calls for enabling the interior minister to lift a person's citizenship if he or she fails to either serve in the Israel Defense Forces or do a term of national service. Party spokesman Tal Nahum said the measure would require all Israelis to declare loyalty "to the state of Israel as a Jewish, Zionist and democratic state" before they can be issued a national identity document. The law also requires Israeli residents over 16 carry their identity cards at all times.
Yisrael Beitenu also announced plans for legislation imposing a ban Arab citizens, and a jail term of up to three years for violators, marking the anniversary of Israel's independence as 'Nakba', or 'Day of Catastrophe'. "The draft law is intended to strengthen unity in the State of Israel and to ban marking Independence Day as a day of mourning," said Nahum.