Israel proposes loyalty oath

Israel's cabinet backed a controversial law that will force non-Jewish citizens to pledge an oath of loyalty to the country as a Jewish state, reports Abc.net.

The measure has not yet passed the Parliament but political watchers say the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could be using it as a way of courting support from his conservative coalition partners on the settlement freeze which is threatening the peace talks with the Palestinians.

But opponents of the bill say it is racist and would diminish the rights of Arab Israelis.

The very notion that they or future Arab citizens should have to pledge an oath of loyalty to a Jewish state - as opposed to just Israel - is something they say is racist and would only undermine their democratic rights.

But 22 of the 30 Ministers who make up the Israeli Cabinet voted in support and for Science Minister Daniel Hershkowitz it's a fair request.