The Interior Ministry has announced that it will enable
residents who once waived their rights to Israeli
citizenship, living in Israel as permanent residents, to
cancel these declarations. Anyone doing so will receive full
Israeli citizenship. 37,000 people signed such waivers close
to the time of their aliya, due to fear of losing
their citizenship in their country of origin.
The Citizenship Law enables one who made aliya at the
age of 18 by dint of the Law of Return to declare that he
wishes to waive his Israeli citizenship. This declaration
must be made within three months from the date of his
aliya. Parents who made aliya under the same
circumstances may make such declarations for their children
who are still minors. At present there are 37,000 residents
who fall into this category.
In the early days of the State of Israel, it was not clear if
it was possible to become a citizen of Israel and retain
one's original citizenship, such as U.S.A. citizenship.
Israel allows dual citizenship, but America did not seem to
allow it. More recently it became clear that America would
allow most people do hold dual citizenship, if they had not
renounced their American citizenship nor pledged allegiance
to any foreign power. Since one receives citizenship in
Israel through the Law of Return in a passive way, by
entering as an immigrant and then letting a time period pass,
the process of becoming an Israeli citizen does not disturb
American citizenship.
Those who renounced Israeli citizenship retain all the
obligations and many of the rights of Israeli citizens, but
they may not vote in elections. They have the status of
"permanent residents."
Arrangements have been made to enable immigrants who made
such declarations to receive Israeli citizenship by the Law
of Return, and in that manner to become regular Israeli
citizens.
The Interior Ministry is currently sending notifications,
including questionnaires, to all 37,000 of the such
residents. The questionnaires must be returned to the
Population Registry offices no later than October 6, 1999.
The Interior Ministry appeals to those who have yet to
receive notification to contact the Population Registry
Office nearest their homes.
