Protest letter sent to Israeli government, signed by 169 American Jewish leaders
A large, varied group of Jewish leaders in the United States submitted a letter to the Israeli government calling for “a critical and necessary debate” over Israel’s continuation as a secure and democratic state in the face of proposed judicial reforms.
The letter raised additional concerns about the possible canceling of the “grandchild clause,” a 1970 amendment to the Law of Return, which grants grandchildren of Jews the right to immigrate to Israel.
Other concerns included whether Israel would prevent non-Orthodox prayer at the Western Wall, and whether the status quo on the Temple Mount, a site which only permits Muslim prayer, has been shaken.
The letter also criticized the legalization of Jewish community outposts as de facto expansion of Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank, also known as Judea and Samaria.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
