Two Jews, two signatures and one big question: Who is the State of Israel really open to? | Tova Herzl
An opinion column by Tova Herzl examining the unprecedented decision to prevent two Jews, a British man and an American woman, who were active in 'protective presence' in the territories, from immigrating to Israel. The author challenges fundamental principles of the Law of Return, the Declaration of Independence, and Israeli democracy, questioning whether Israel is still committed to being a home for every Jew, or whether the right to immigrate is conditional on identifying with the right camp.
An opinion column by Tova Herzl, a former employee of the Jewish Agency's Immigration Department and the Foreign Ministry, examining the unprecedented decision to prevent two Jews, a British man and an American woman, who were active in 'protective presence' in the territories – physically shielding Palestinian residents – from immigrating to Israel. The author argues that the decision undermines fundamental principles: the Declaration of Independence stating that 'the State of Israel will be open to Jewish immigration and the ingathering of the exiles'; the 1950 Law of Return, which allowed refusal only in exceptional cases such as criminals or doubts about Jewishness; and the democratic principle that a person may do anything not prohibited by law. She notes that almost no steps are taken against Jewish terrorism and its perpetrators, while activity against violence toward Palestinians becomes grounds for preventing immigration. The author wonders whether Israel is still committed to reciprocity with the Jewish diaspora, and notes that two bureaucratic signatures cast a long shadow over Israel's status as a state of law, democracy, and a national home for every Jew.