Dramatic agreement: 'Grandchild clause' in Law of Return will be amended until budget is passed

December 22, 2022   

New wording for the Law of Return: Religious Zionism, United Torah Judaism, and Likud reached a consensus in coalition agreements, which allowed Benjamin Netanyahu to declare to the president's relief that he "managed to form a government" - that by March 31st the "grandchild clause" would be amended.

According to the agreement, the wording of the bill will be determined within 60 days of the government being sworn in, by a committee that will include all representatives of the coalition parties. Article 53 of the coalition agreement signed with United Torah Judaism states: "In light of the need to fulfill the purposes of the Law of Return and bring about Jewish immigration to the country, in light of the distribution and characteristics of immigration in recent years, in light of the difficulties and loopholes created by the 'grandchild clause' in the Law of Return, and the need to prevent assimilation in Israel and to prevent abuse of the rights that the state grants immigrants by immigrants who return to their country of origin shortly after immigrating to Israel, the legislative amendments required to support the appropriate immigration policy will be made by the time the state budget for 2023 is passed. The wording of the legislative amendments will be agreed upon within 60 days in a committee that will be established with the participation of representatives of all coalition parties." A similar clause is also found in the agreement between Likud and Religious Zionism. Today, the 'grandchild clause' in the Law of Return allows hundreds of thousands of Gentiles who have no connection to Judaism to immigrate to Israel - just because they are grandchildren of Jews. Former minister, MK Matan Kahane, addressed attempts to change the 'grandchild clause' in an interview with the program 'Meet the Press' - and said: "I support changing the grandchild clause in the Law of Return, Orthodox conversion only." The MK said: "The situation in which 75 percent of immigrants to Israel are non-Jews is a serious violation of Israel's identity. The Law of Return must be changed. The change in the clause will not undermine the relationship with the US. Anyone who values ​​Israel's Jewish identity cannot continue with this situation. Conversion should only be according to Orthodox law.".