| Israel's proposed 'Jewish oath' for new citizens sparks racism row Loyalty pledge criticised as 'fascist' and an affront to country's Palestinian citizens, who make up 20% of populationThe Israeli cabinet today approved a bill requiring new non-Jewish citizens to swear an oath of allegiance to Israel as a "Jewish and democratic state", in a move that has brought accusations of discrimination against Israel's Arab minority. One dissenting cabinet minister referred to a "whiff of fascism".The bill, originally promoted by the rightwing foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, who has made the issue of loyalty a hallmark of his political career, was passed by a big majority despite the opposition of Labour party members.The loyalty oath will be required of non-Jews seeking to become Israeli citizens, mainly affecting Palestinians from the West Bank who marry Palestinian citizens of Israel.The latter, who make up 20% of Israel's population, have vigorously criticised the proposal – which needs approval from the Knesset before becoming law – as provocative and racist. It has also drawn protests from Israeli Jews, including those in the cabinet.Isaac Herzog, the social affairs minister, told Israel's army radio: "There is a whiff of fascism on the margins of Israeli society. The overall picture is very disturbing and threatens the democratic character of the state of Israel. "There have been a tsunami of measures that limit rights ... We will pay a heavy price for this."Lieberman campaigned in last year's election for a loyalty oath to be required of all existing Palestinian citizens of Israel. However the bill put to the vote today drew back from that, applying only to future citizens. "I think this is an important step forward. Obviously this is not the end of the issue of loyalty in return for citizenship, but this is a highly important step," Lieberman said.At the start of the cabinet meeting, the prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, said: "The state of Israel is the national state of the Jewish people and is a democratic state in which all its citizens – Jewish and non-Jewish – enjoy full equal rights ... Whoever wants to join us, has to recognise us."It was suggested that Netanyahu backed the bill as a quid pro quo for support from rightwing parties within his coalition government should he bow to US pressure to extend the freeze on settlement construction. The moratorium, which expired two weeks ago, is threatening to scupper talks on a peace deal with the Palestinians.Ahmed Tibi, an Israeli-Arab member of the Knesset, condemned the cabinet's decision. "The government of Israel has become subservient to Yisrael Beiteinu [Lieberman's party] and its fascist doctrine," he said. "No other state in the world would force its citizens or those seeking citizenship to pledge allegiance to an ideology."The speaker of the Knesset, Reuven Rivlin, also criticised the proposal. "This law will not assist us as a society and a state," he said. "On the contrary, it could arm our enemies and opponents in the world in an effort to emphasise the trend for separatism or even racism within Israel."Likud cabinet members Dan Meridor, Benny Begin and Michael Eitan opposed the bill along with Labour ministers.Writing in today's Haaretz, liberal commentator Gideon Levy said: "Remember this day. It's the day Israel changes its character ... From now on, we will be living in a new, officially approved, ethnocratic, theocratic, nationalistic and racist country."IsraelMiddle EastJudaismReligionHarriet Sherwoodguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Paxman goes Gaga in opera apology Jeremy Paxman's attempt to pay tribute to opera legend Dame Joan Sutherland on Newsnight becomes a long running saga. news.bbc.co.uk |
Strikes Intensify in France Nationwide strikes and demonstrations against planned pension reforms caused widespread disruption in France Tuesday for the sixth time in two months as street clashes with riot police gave the protest movement a more violent slant. online.wsj.com |
Letters: Faith and yoga living side by side Viv Groskop's is a sad story, of the priest who would not acknowledge that hers was a first wedding (Leave, with my blessing, 19 October). She was right to observe that the churches now are tending to "insiders" only: you're either "in" or you're "out", and this is really uncomfortable for those of us who follow Christianity, but can't accept all its dogma.It's all too easy to trigger the traditional faith points where people want simple certainties. They know, in their hearts, that there is no "old man in the sky" but behave as if there was one: then you can go on to say that He has a genetic Son, Jesus. Simple, but unlikely, and at odds with the increasing understanding of the complexities of our world, of the Bible and of our minds.Churches, generally, do not encourage people in their search for a faith that seems more relevant to our 21st-century world – even more rarely via the pulpit! This would threaten the "tradition".But there is a hunger for new approaches in which the carpenter from Nazareth can show us all a better way of living in our complicated world, not just in and around the church club. Several organisations now promote such ideas and encourage this exploration; they are mostly growing outside of any structured churches. Two examples are Christians Awakening to a New Awareness and Progressive Christianity Network.I would urge "searching" readers to look at the websites for these networks and discover new insights for themselves where faith and yoga can live side by side.Rev Peter HartleyWest Sussex• I have much sympathy with Viv Groskop. The church I was brought up in was a broad church, and as a student I was excited by reading John Robinson's Honest to God. But the church was not just a talking shop. We cared for the poor, refugees, the hungry and the environment – it was worth belonging to!The struggle to have women priests – now much appreciated in many parishes – left many of us exhausted, yet still the struggle goes on with people like Stephen Bould determined to fix the church in some indeterminate past. As a church we fail the needy in many cases, particularly our gay friends, and this is a situation likely to get worse as the Church of England pushes ever onwards to accept the Anglican Covenant, which will put us all in the hands of the most dogmatic fundamentalists.But all is not lost! The C of E still has many liberal members in parishes across the land where Viv and others will find an open and welcoming church.Rosalind LundVice-chair, Modern Church• Viv Groskop's concerns about prescription and exclusion in churches are shared by plenty of us who do still go regularly. Less of St Paul and more of St John would be a healthy development, for a start. Recently I have been introduced to the theology of the Iona Community and this has revealed a wider and more deeply sacramental perspective, while retaining the sort of essential focal points that can never be provided by yoga classes. Strongly recommended! Nicholas JardineMuch Hadham, Hertfordshire• I am an atheist, but I was moved to deep sympathy for Father Stephen Bould, who is moving with his parishioners in Folkestone to the church of Rome, by the attack on him by Viv Groskop. Father Gould and I will differ on most points of belief, but we agree that they should be taken seriously, and not merely provide an occasional theatrical background to Ms Groskop and her headdress. Anything worth doing needs attention: casual, part-time attendance is seldom sufficient. If Ms Groskop attends her yoga classes on this basis she will soon get the heave-ho.James SempleSeaton, Devon• I did not see Viv Groskop's piece until the evening because I had been leading a day of Christian meditation at a Franciscan friary in Dorset. Please don't imagine that all C of E clergy have adopted the same hard attitude that Viv encountered over her wedding. Some of us are proud to be considered woolly and liberal if that means being open to people no matter what stage they have reached in their spiritual journey.Rev Dan RichardsBruton, SomersetChristianityAnglicanismCatholicismReligionWeddingsguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Catholics in Philippines Debate Contraception and Family Planning While Catholics and critics digest the Pope's most recent pronouncement on prophylactics, the Philippines is mired in debate about family planning, population and the place of the church in the 21st century feedproxy.google.com |