Conversion controversy

By Jeremy Last - Thursday 22nd July 2010


Plans to change the way Jewish conversions are approved in Israel prompted outrage this week, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warning the move could "split the Jewish people".

The controversy erupted after MK David Rotem's conversion bill was unexpectedly passed by the Knesset's Law, Constitution and Justice Committee last week, giving a significant boost to its chances of eventually becoming law.

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Rotem has insisted the proposal to give municipal rabbis authority over conversion would only affect those living in Israel and is only aimed at simplifying the process for some 350,000 immigrants from the Soviet Union living in the country.

However, there has been widespread concerns both in Israel and the diaspora that it would have strong implications for world Jewry.
While the bill makes no specific mention of a change to the current situation, in which the High Court allows those who converted to Reform or Conservative Judaism abroad to make aliyah, it does underline the power of the chief rabbinate to determine who is considered Jewish in Israel.

This could potentially change the legal status in Israel of non-Orthodox conversions held abroad.

Following massive lobbying against the bill by some of the largest American Jewish groups, Netanyahu criticised the move at his weekly cabinet meeting.
He said: "I will not lend my hand to any legislation that will cause a split in the Jewish people. Efforts will be made to remove the bill by consensus. But if not, I will ask Likud and other members of the coalition to oppose it."
Numerous American Jewish organisations voiced their concerns about the bill and also praised Netanyahu's "courage" for standing up aginst it.

The American Jewish Committee released a statement saying the bill was "effectively devaluing and delegitimising conversions by non-Orthodox and even some Orthodox rabbis."

And Jewish Agency chairman Natan Sharansky claimed the plans are "profoundly damaging to the state of Israel". But ultra-Orthodox parties including United Torah Judaism and Shas spoke out in favour of the bill, with Sephardi Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar calling on them to quit the coalition if it is blocked.

The conversion row is the latest disagreement between Netanyahu and his Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, a split which has further weakened his already fragile government. Rotem is a member of Lieberman's Israel Beitenu Party, the second largest partner in the coalition, and the prime minister's decision to oppose his bill has been taken personally. Days earlier, Lieberman was left disappointed by the proposed state budget, which included financial cuts at ministries controlled by Israel Beitenu MKs.

Although he held a press conference on Monday criticising the Likud Party's treatment of his colleagues, Lieberman stressed his commitment to the coalition remains intact. He said: "There is no crisis and I have no intention to quit the coalition."

Lieberman and Netanyahu also held a two-hour meeting aimed at ironing out differences.
Netanyahu released a statement after these talks, saying: "Israel Beiteinu is our central partner and is important to the government."




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