July 5 marks the 71st anniversary of Israel's enacting of the Law of Return, legislation that allows anyone who is Jewish to immigrate and obtain Israeli citizenship.
Based on Zionist principles, the law was intended to ensure that the State of Israel would be a Jewish state and a home for the Jewish people.
The law was later amended twice. The first time was on August 23, 1954, under then-prime minister Moshe Sharett, when a provision was added to deny citizenship to certain people, such as those with a criminal record.
The Law of Return remains controversial in Israel among those on the Right, who think it lets non-halachic Jews make aliyah, and on the Left, who note a double-standard for Arabs and Palestinians.
From an article in the Jerusalem Post
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