Wednesday, December 1, 1999 23 Kislev 5760 Updated Wed., Dec. 01 19:23
At a Knesset debate today on proposed changes in the Law of Return, Interior Minister Natan Sharansky said it is impossible to discuss the law without a dialogue with Diaspora Jewry, Israel Radio reported. He noted that over the past decade a quarter of the country's immigrants were not Jews, and said this reflects the situation in the Diaspora.
Minister for Diaspora Affairs Michael Melchior said during the debate that the Ministerial Committee on Conversion would soon consider cancelling the nationality category on identity cards. He said the debate should focus on the question 'Who is an Israeli?' rather than on 'Who is a Jew?'