'Israel is a Jewish and democratic state,' Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, who proposed the bill, says. 'Anyone who doesn’t recognize that cannot serve as an ambassador'
Diplomats would have to pledge loyalty to Israel as a Jewish and democratic state if a bill that was approved on Sunday by the Ministerial Committee for Legislation becomes law.
The committee’s approval means the governing coalition supports the bill, thereby increasing its chances of passing.
The bill, proposed by Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, states that to be appointed as an ambassador, consul or head of any other diplomatic legation, the candidate would have to make the following pledge: “I am committed to keeping faith with Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.”
The bill is a response to the previous government’s plan to appoint former Meretz lawmaker Ghaida Rinawie Zoabi, who rejects Israel’s self-definition as Jewish and democratic, as its consul in Shanghai. That plan was ultimately scrapped.
“The job of the state’s envoys and representatives is to represent Israel and its values and work to advance its interests,” Cohen told the panel. “Israel is a Jewish and democratic state, and anyone who doesn’t recognize that cannot serve as an ambassador and represent Israel.”
Under a 1959 law, all civil servants are already obliged to pledge to “keep faith with Israel and its laws and fulfill any duty imposed on me as a civil servant honestly and faithfully.” The new pledge would be in addition to this one. It would be made either to the foreign minister or to a civil servant to be named in subsequent regulations.
The head of a diplomatic legation is Israel’s senior representative in a foreign country, the bill’s explanatory notes say, and “by dint of his position, represents the state’s and the government’s positions abroad.” In addition, “he is responsible for diplomatic, defense, economic, public diplomacy, cultural and scientific relations with the most senior officials of the country where he serves.”
Given the importance of this job and diplomats’ “duty to faithfully reflect the government’s policy on both foreign affairs and domestic policy,” the notes state, appointees should be required to pledge loyalty to Israel as a Jewish and democratic state before receiving their letter of appointment.