Is the Israeli "Law of Return" Racist?

The Law of return stipulates that any Jew may come to Israel and become a citizen without undergoing naturalization. Other applicants must undergo a naturalization process. The Law of Return embodies  a major  purpose of the state of Israel, which is to provide a safe haven for Jews from every country and to make possible the restoration of the Jewish people. The need for a haven, foreseen as important by the founders of Zionism, assumed tragic significance during the Holocaust, when every country in the world closed its doors to Jews fleeing Nazi persecution. Abolishing the Law of Return, as anti-Zionists demand, would destroy the purpose of Israel as a national home for the Jews.

Israel's immigration policy is not racist or separatist. In common with many other countries, it gives precedence to its own absent nationals. As in any other country, others - of any religion or original nationality, can become citizens if they are not enemies of the state and if there is a good reason to make them citizens (see  LaVon Mercer for example).

Other countries have such laws, including Armenia, Bulgaria, Finland,  Ireland, Germany, Greece and Japan. For commentary see  Does Japan have the right to exist as a Japanese state?

See Encyclopedia article Law of Return for text of the law and amendments.  

Ami Isseroff

Israeli personality Mehereta Baruch and American-Israeli basketball star LaVon Mercer tell us Zionism is not racism. See Also - Zionist Quotes  Be Proud-Presenting Zionism   Explaining Zionism   The Truth about the Zionist Threat  Zionism and Its Impact The Myth of the Israeli Bantustan offer at Taba and other myths

Is Zionism=Racism? Mehereta Baruch LaVon Mercer