They’re Jews, too

In reference to “Coalition leaders reach deal to temporarily resolve conversion crisis” (July 2), as a gentile lover of Israel and frequent visitor, with many Israeli friends, I would like to add something to the current controversy regarding Reform and Conservative Jews, and who the ultra-Orthodox deem to be a Jew.

I was shocked to discover on a recent visit that there is another group of Jews being discriminated against. They are denied citizenship simply because they believe in Jesus as their messiah. When questioned about their religious beliefs on applying for aliya, they are turned down for having become “Christians.” However, they consider themselves “Messianic Jews,” not Christians, and most live a Jewish lifestyle.

This discrimination goes blatantly against the Law of Return, which states that if just one of your grandparents was a Jew, you qualify for citizenship. Jews in Europe were sent to the death camps and gas chambers if just one of their grandparents was Jewish, even if that person had previously “converted” to Christianity.

Is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu aware of this situation? I ask because I understand that he recently told US President Donald Trump that there was religious freedom for everyone living in the State of Israel.

Surely, Netanyahu must realize that true equality for all cannot be a reality until he finds a way to break the stranglehold of the ultra-Orthodox. Surely, this discrimination against a minority group of Jews cannot be allowed to continue in a democratic state. SUSAN JAMES London