Is a family that sheds blood for the State of Israel Israeli?/ShutterStock
The issue of "who is a Jew" has accompanied Israel since its founding.
During the war of iron swords, when both the demand for unity and the rift in the nation are particularly sharp, the issue arises for more painful and poignant reasons than ever before.
Is a family that sheds blood for the State of Israel Israeli?
Do we want the main way to become an Israeli regardless of Judaism or marrying an Israeli to be to fight for the country as an IDF soldier? Does it make sense that this right is granted or not granted at the discretion of one person, the Minister of the Interior, and not according to an orderly procedure?
During the past months, Minister Interior Minister Moshe Arbel granted citizenship to the family of two IDF martyrs - the late Valentin (Eli) Gansia, who was killed on 07.10 in the battle to liberate Kibbutz Bari before completing the aliyah process, and the late Cedric Green, the son of two foreign workers who volunteered to enlist As a fighter and fell with 20 other reservists in the collapse of a trapped building in Gaza.
Among the general public it is agreed that this is a "nice gesture" and the right decision on the part of the Minister of the Interior.
With all the sadness, additional fighters whose families are not citizens of Israel will fall victim in this war, or in the future, therefore it makes sense to examine the authority of Moshe Arbel, or any interior minister who replaces him in the next government, to grant or not to grant citizenship in such cases.
What does the law say about granting citizenship to soldiers and their family members?
Although publications in the media link the granting of citizenship to the law granting honorary citizenship to Israeli martyrs, which was enacted shortly after the start of the war, this is not the case.
This law concerns only the granting of citizenship to the soldier himself, after his death, and mentions the family members only in the context of their possible opposition to the granting of citizenship.
Generally, the possibility of obtaining Israeli citizenship for those whose parents are not citizens of Israel is limited to:
• Immigrants according to the Law of Return
• Permanent residents who become naturalized
• Spouses of Israeli citizens or permanent residents
However, the Citizenship Law allows the Minister of the Interior to waive the requirements for naturalization - basically to grant citizenship according His judgment is for those who "identify with the State of Israel and its goals and...take real action to promote security, the economy or another important matter of the state".
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To what extent do the interior ministers use this authority?
There is a serious difference between the degree of acceptance of the public and the ministers of the interior regarding the granting of citizenship to soldiers and their family members compared to any other person who actually helps the State of Israel.
Obtaining citizenship after serving in the IDF is an almost automatic matter, even for those who have no other option to obtain citizenship in Israel (others who come from the same place as Cedric Green - children of foreign workers, asylum seekers and others, who grew up in the State of Israel but are not considered residents or citizens)
There is also a procedure for obtaining status in Israel followed by citizenship for the biological parents of IDF soldiers, which was accepted only in the 21st century and after long opposition from the Ministry of the Interior
.
Every single soldier can bring his parents to Israel after the service, regardless of possible opposition from an interior minister concerned about the demographic balance.
On the other hand, granting citizenship to the family of martyrs depends entirely on the good will of the Minister of the Interior.
If the government changes tomorrow, the interior minister will be able to ignore the family of a fallen soldier without this being considered "unreasonable".
Who gets citizenship except soldiers and when?
In the background there is also the change of attitude in recent years regarding the acceptance of Israeli citizenship for athletes, foreign citizens, regardless of Judaism.
After a number of prominent foreign athletes received citizenship, the Minister of the Interior asked a committee to prepare an orderly procedure for obtaining citizenship for athletes who want to tie their lives to the State of Israel.
Our office supports the regulation of a procedure for obtaining citizenship for both athletes and soldiers' families - but also for scientists, artisans, specialist workers, academics, and more.
All of these are needed by the State of Israel even more than bullet kickers, and in the long run perhaps even more than soldiers.
Unfortunately, at the time of writing these lines, a person can live, work and pay taxes in Israel for decades, raise children here, and not be entitled to citizenship, especially if these children do not serve in the army.
What can change in the near future?
Is the difference between scientists and artists and footballers and basketball players is that athletes also fight for the good of the country?
Or is it bloodshed on the battlefield and on the field?
In the early 2000s, victims of hostilities who became disabled would receive permanent status in Israel, which supports the above theory.
Today, a person who lost his eyes and limbs in an attack can find himself deported from the country after many years.
In conclusion, there is no reason not to take the necessary steps in order to develop visa procedures that can lead to status in Israel and later citizenship for a wide variety of friends of Israel and foreign workers who want to live and, God forbid, die here.
The State of Israel certainly lacks citizens who will act "to promote security, the economy or another important matter of the state", but it is appropriate that decisions regarding the granting of permanent status in Israel, let alone Israeli citizenship, be made in an orderly manner according to procedures and not decisions of the Minister of the Interior himself.
Written with the assistance of Sasha Kishko
In collaboration with legal zap
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