Israel's High Court Rules: Recognize Reform, Conservative Conversions Done In Israel For Citizenship

By Staff Reporter
Posted on 03/01/21 | News Source: JPost

Until now, Reform and Conservative conversions performed in Israel were not recognized for the purposes of obtaining citizenship.

An expanded nine justice panel of the High Court of Justice ruled on Monday to recognize conversions by the Reform and Masorti (Conservative) movements in Israel for the purposes of citizenship, ending a 15-year legal saga.

Join BJL on WhatsApp Status: Click here to Join BJL status for engagements, births, deals, levayos, events & more

Join BJL on WhatsApp Groups: Click here to Join an official BJL WhatsApp group for breaking news as it happens


Eight of the nine justices agreed with all aspects of the landmark ruling, while Justice Noam Sohlberg preferred to delay applying it for 12 months from the swearing in of a new government.
The case was first filed in 2005. Until now, Reform and Conservative conversions performed in Israel were not recognized for the purposes of obtaining citizenship under the Law of Return, as are Orthodox conversions and non-Orthodox conversions conducted abroad.
Trying to pre-emptively defray criticism, the High Court said that its ruling had no religious implications and only dealt with the secular-law questions of the right to obtain citizenship. Read more at JPost