Israel court rules non-orthodox converts can claim citizenship

ISRAEL’S supreme Court has ruled that people who convert to Reform or Conservative offshoots of Judaism must be entitled to citizenship, in a move that has angered the Jewish state’s predominantly Orthodox religious leaders who are disdainful of the two movements.

Before the ruling on Monday evening, Israel only recognised conversions to the breakaway Conservative and Reform strands that took place outside the country.

The decision is only likely to affect a few dozen people each year – and relates to immigration procedures only – but it has reignited debate on the contentious issue of which types of conversion are legitimate in Israel.

Orthodox religious leaders have long maintained that the Reform and Conservative movements are watered down versions of Jewish tradition. “Someone converted by the Reform [movement] and the like are not Jews and no supreme court decision will change that fact,” said Israel’s Chief Rabbi David Lau in response to the court ruling which was issued three weeks ahead of elections, and could create a headache for Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, who is likely to need strong support from religious parties to stay in power.

A politician from the ultra-orthodox

Shas party, Yoav Ben Tzur, said yesterday that party leader Aryeh Deri had submitted a bill to parliament to effectively overturn the court’s decision.

“The bill seeks to legally affirm that only institutions acting on behalf of Israel’s Orthodox rabbinate could conduct conversions,” Mr Ben Tzur told Army Radio. He added that unless Mr Netanyahu agreed to back it, Shas would not join a coalition led by him.

Most polls show Mr Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party winning 28 or 29 seats in the 120-member parliament, the Knesset. The premier will need the backing of the two main ultra-orthodox coalitions, Shas and United Torah Judaism – slated to win a combined 15 seats – among other parties, if he hopes to form a 61-seat majority.

Mr Netanyahu did not comment on the ruling, but a Likud statement backed the Orthodox position.