Livni Says Loyalty Oath, Approved Sunday, Is ‘Politics at Its Worst’

By Haaretz Service October 11, 2010

Leader of the opposition and Kadima chairwoman Tzipi Livni condemned on Sunday the cabinet’s approval of a controversial amendment to the Citizenship Law requiring non-Jews seeking citizenship to pledge allegiance to Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.

“What we have seen today is politics at its worst. The sensitive issue of Israel’s existence as a Jewish and democratic state has become subject to political horse-trading.”

“It is essential that we maintain Israel’s status as a Jewish state with equal rights for all its citizens. This proposal contributes nothing to this goal. On the contrary, it will cause internal conflict and damage [Israel’s image in the world].”

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