The High Court of Justice handed down a landmark decision on Monday after 15 years of deliberations on the hot-button issue of non-Orthodox conversion, ruling that the state could no longer abide by only one stream when it comes to the immigration of Jews under the Law of Return.
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Under that law, Jews have the right to immigrate to Israel if they are considered Jewish ethnically or via their religion, but the latter criteria had until now been strictly limited to Orthodox Judaism when it comes to converts.
The nine-justice panel on Monday said that for the purpose of immigration and citizenship, prospective immigrants can qualify even if they joined the Jewish faith via Reform or Conservative conversion processes, but they must do so in Israel.
The ruling comes just three weeks before Israelis go to the polls to select a new Knesset, and this will most likely fire up debate on the role of Judaism in government.
The ultra-Orthodox parties, who have had control over the state institutions recognizing conversions, will most likely raise this issue when it comes time to choose whom they will support in the post-election coalition negotiations, and this could determine who will become prime minister.
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