Opinion ID: 802083
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: is a person with a criminal past, likely to

Text: endanger public welfare. 3. (a) A Jew who has come to Israel and subsequent to his arrival has expressed his desire to settle in Israel may, while still in Israel, receive an oleh’s certificate. (b) The restrictions specified in section 2(b) shall apply also to the grant of an oleh’s certificate, but a person shall not be regarded as endangering public health on account of an illness contracted after his arrival in Israel. Law of Return, 5710–1950, 4 LSI 114, §§ 1–3, (1949–1950) (footnote omitted), as amended by Law of Return (Amendment 5714–1954); see Addendum. It is plain from the foregoing provisions that nationality “by return” in Israel turns on the requirements of Israel’s Law of Return. The Nationality Law and the Law of Return are expressly integrated to make this point obvious. Thus, for 8 example, Section 2(b)(2) of the Nationality Law corresponds to section 2 of the Law of Return, the latter of which states that a Jew may enter Israel as an oleh, on an oleh’s visa. See Law of Return, 5710–1950, 4 LSI 114, § 2(a). And section 2(b)(4) of the Nationality Law corresponds to section 3 of the Law of Return, the latter of which states that a Jew who otherwise enters Israel may apply for an oleh’s certificate. See id. § 3(a). It is also noteworthy that, under the Law of Return, Israel’s Minister of the Interior may deny applications for either an oleh’s visa or an oleh’s certificate upon finding the applicant “(1) is engaged in an activity directed against the Jewish people; or (2) is likely to endanger public health or the security of the State; or (3) is a person with a criminal past, likely to endanger public welfare.” Id. §§ 2(b), 3(b), as amended by Law of Return (Amendment 5714–1954); see Addendum. In other words, conferral of nationality “by return” is secured pursuant to application, not by automatic operation of law. Nationality “by Naturalisation” Section 5 of Israel’s Nationality Law addresses the requirements for an individual to obtain nationality “by naturalisation.” The law states: (a) A person of full age, not being an Israel national, may obtain Israel nationality by naturalisation if – (1) he is in Israel; and (2) he has been in Israel for three years out of five years preceding the day of the submission of his application; and (3) he is entitled to reside in Israel permanently; and (4) he has settled, or intends to settle, in Israel; and (5) he has some knowledge of the Hebrew language; and 9 (6) he has renounced his prior nationality or has proved that he will cease to be a foreign national upon becoming an Israel national. (b) Where a person has applied for naturalisation, and he meets the requirements of subsection (a), the Minister of the Interior, if he thinks fit to do so, shall grant him Israel nationality by the issue of a certificate of naturalisation. (c) Prior to the grant of nationality, the applicant shall make the following declaration: “I declare that I will be a loyal national of the State of Israel.” (d) Nationality is acquired on the day of the declaration. Nationality Law, 5712–1952, 6 LSI 51, § 5.