15 judges cannot decide who is a Jew

• Published date: 01 March 2021
• Date: 01 March 2021
• Author: MK Betzalel Smotrich
• Publication title: Israel National News (Israel)

Someone who wishes to enter the gates of the Jewish nation must convert according to Jewish law, called the Halakha. This principle was agreed upon as part of the what is known as the Status Quo, the relgious principles agreed upon by religious and secular government figures at the formation of the Jewish State, in order to preserve the unity of the Nation—so that the Nation of Israel will remain one nation not only today but for future generations; so that Jewish grandchildren and great grandchildren in the Jewish State can marry each other without the need to produce and prove detailed family histories.

Today's ruling is completely arbitrary, since the High Court has no authority to address the underlying issue. No one has authorized the High Court to rule on questions of basic values which go to the heart of the identity of the State of Israel. In a democracy, the debate over controversial values should be conducted in a democratic manner.

Time after time, the High Court of Justice has ridden roughshod over the Knesset and the Government, and even over the people, deciding on matters which go literally to the heart of our existence. Decisions on basic values are acceptable after we debate and then decide as in a democracy. These decisions should not be made by 15 judges who crudely ride over the Knesset, the Government and the sovereignty of the people, and repeatedly damage the Jewish identity of the State.

The solution is to enact a Law of Governmental Conversion which provides that the State of Israel will recognize only governmental conversions. During the past year, there were signs that this decision was already written, and that the Court was only awaiting the proper timing to publish it. I do not negate the possibility that the High Court looked at the election polls, and heard of...