Law of Return

It has been suggested that this article or section be into Right of return#Jewish. (Discuss)

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Right of return#Jewish - Discuss

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The Law of Return (??? ?????) is Israeli legislation that allows Jews to settle in Israel and gain citizenship. It was the first law passed by the Knesset after the establishment in 1948 of the State of Israel. While the original law was enacted to remove barriers for entry to Jewish refugees from around the world, its continued status is controversial in relation to Palestinian Arab refugees from present-day Israel.

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Israeli - Jews - Knesset - State of Israel - Palestinian Arab

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Supporters of the Law of Return claim that in order to understand the Law, one must comprehend the political context in which it was written. At the time of the measure's adoption in 1950, only five years had passed since the end of World War II and the Holocaust, events which occasioned upon European Jews incalculably large losses of family members, friends, communities, and livelihoods. This context also included consideration of a consistent pattern of persecution of Jews in virtually the entire diaspora.

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World War II - Holocaust - European - Jews

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Jewish immigration to Palestine was not only seen as the fulfillment of a religious cultural vision, but as the only viable option for Jews seeking refuge from anti-Semitic persecution. While other states had denied the mass immigration of Jewish refugees, forceful Zionist advocates in Palestine had become symbolic of both a literal interpretation of the cause for a Jewish homeland and a tangible and immediate means for continued survival.

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Zionist - Jewish homeland

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The Law of Return does not actually assert citizenship based on Jewish identity, but rather attempts to provide sanctuary as a citizen in Israel to anyone who would be persecuted under the Nuremberg Laws. As the Nuremberg Laws did not use a halakhic definition in its definition of Who is a Jew, so too the Law of Return definition for citizenship eligibility is also non-halakhic. The Law of Return merely provides citizenship for anyone covered under the Nuremberg Laws, but does not cede Jewish status to those granted citizenship. Thus one can be Jewish and be excluded from Israeli citizenship under the Law of Return (e.g. Meyer Lansky or Brother Daniel) or not be Jewish and yet be granted citizenship (but not Jewish status).

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Nuremberg Laws - Halakhic - Who is a Jew - Meyer Lansky - Brother Daniel

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