Initiative: Ambassadors will pledge allegiance to the State of Israel as Jewish and democratic | Israel Hayom

Foreign Minister Eli Cohen is initiating a new bill according to which new ambassadors and consuls on behalf of the State of Israel will announce that they "pledge allegiance to the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state."

The proposal was born out of former Foreign Minister Yair Lapid's attempt to appoint then-MK Rinawi Zoabi of Meretz as consulate in Shanghai, as part of a political deal, despite her statements against the State of Israel. Rinawi Zoabi admitted that she did not know the words of the national anthem "Hatikvah" and that she disapproved of the basic values of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.

"Disapproves of the values of the state." Rinawi Zoabi, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon

In order to prevent a recurrence of a situation in which a person who does not identify with the values of the State of Israel will be sent to represent it abroad, Cohen proposes updating the Civil Service Law and expanding the wording of the existing commitment. Today, new heads of missions are required to declare before receiving the letter of appointment that "I undertake to remain loyal to the State of Israel and its laws and to fulfill honestly and faithfully every duty imposed on me as a civil servant."

According to the new version, the ambassadors and consuls will continue to say: "I pledge allegiance to the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state."

It should be noted that the proposed amendment to the law passed the approval of the legal counsel of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Justice and the Civil Service Commission.

According to the rationale of the bill, the ability of those who do not recognize the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state to represent the state and defend its good name in the world is questionable.

"The consul is the representative of the sovereign." Minister Cohen, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon

The bill's explanatory notes state that "the head of a diplomatic or consular mission is the official and senior representative of the sovereign in the foreign state, who represents, by virtue of his position, the positions of the state and the government abroad and on its behalf. In light of the importance of representativeness and statehood required by the head of mission, who is responsible for political, security, economic, informational, cultural and scientific relations vis-à-vis the most senior officials in the state of office and by virtue of his position, and in light of his responsibility and duty to faithfully express government policy in both foreign and domestic relations, and his role is to represent Israeli policies, it is proposed to add the declaration."

If the bill eventually passes, the declaration will be made to the foreign minister himself or to another civil servant authorized to do so by regulations.

Foreign Minister Eli Cohen told Israel Hayom that "the role of the state's emissaries and representatives is to represent the State of Israel and its values in the world and act for its interests. The State of Israel is a Jewish and democratic state, and anyone who does not recognize this will not be able to serve as ambassador or consul and represent it."

Wrong? We'll fix it! If you find a mistake in the article, please share with us