Netanyahu blocked in previous Knesset, Otzma Yehudit not giving up: the law returning to the table

Otzma Yehudit has submitted a proposal to change the definition of "Who is a Jew" in the Law of Return, aiming to cancel recognition of Reform and Conservative conversions. The new wording raises legal questions and could also affect private Orthodox conversions and Diaspora Jewry.

Otzma Yehudit has submitted a proposal to change the definition of "Who is a Jew" in the Law of Return, aiming to cancel recognition of Reform and Conservative conversions performed in Israel. The new wording stipulates that eligibility for aliyah will be granted only to those who converted "according to halakha," a vague term that could also harm private Orthodox conversions not recognized by the Chief Rabbinate. The proposal comes after the High Court of Justice recognized non-Orthodox conversions for the Law of Return in 2021, and the Knesset has avoided regulating the issue for years. According to an analysis by the Israel Democracy Institute, the proposal could also affect conversions conducted abroad, where only 9% of American Jews identify as Orthodox. Supporters of the law, including MK Simcha Rothman, argue that it is a matter of principle aimed at preventing "fictitious conversions" and maintaining halakhic unity.