[NGFP-BookClub] On Citizenship and Naturalisation

[Ilan Bloch]

I know this may be "old news" but I only read this document now (it has bee=
n a crazy two weeks of tour guiding/teaching for me!)

>From the Gavison-Meidan covenant: "Israeli citizenship is a subject that m=
ust be treated seriously, and should require a period of acculturation and =
a declaration of loyalty to the state before being awarded =96 even to some=
one who immigrated in accordance with the Law of Return. We differentiate b=
etween Aliya =96 fulfilling the right to settle in Israel =96 and the acqui=
sition of citizenship, which also affords the right of political participat=
ion in elections. This will promote equal treatment in naturalization proce=
dures. Enlistment in full IDF service will exempt a person from the adjustm=
ent period."

I do not quite understand this suggestion - on a number of levels. I person=
ally, and many of my friends, who made Aliyah under the Law of Return, who =
studied in Jewish day schools, were members of Zionist youth movements, and=
 who participated in numerous Israel programs, had a better understanding o=
f Israeli politics and history on the day of our respective arrivals, than =
many (most?) Israelis who we met then or today. To argue that we - or other=
s like us (we are surely not exceptions to the rule) - should have had to w=
ait to vote in elections, is illogical and unfair. =


To then continue to argue that enlistment in full IDF service would enable =
us to overcome this issue, is also illogical. Why IDF service and not a Heb=
rew language test? Or a Zionist/Israeli history/politics test? Or testing u=
nderstanding of Israeli culture (Does the applicant understand Polishook? C=
an the applicant sing along at a Mashina concert? Will the applicant follow=
 an Efraim Kishon play?) Why does IDF service hold such sway? =





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