Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reaffirmed to North American Jews that he will protect the legal status in Israel of non- Orthodox conversions performed abroad.
That pledge prompted relief among many of the nearly 3,000 people gathered here for the annual General Assembly of the Council of Jewish Federations. Religious pluralism in Israel appeared to be a simmering issue in the hallways as well as some of the formal sessions on Israel-Diaspora relations.
At the same time, however, Netanyahu said he would not fight current legislative efforts to reinforce the Orthodox’s exclusive authority over conversions performed in Israel.
“We have Orthodox conversions in Israel. That won’t change,” he said. “We will not allow anyone to change the status quo.”
The premier’s reference to the “status quo” confused people at the G.A., leading some to believe that he was vowing also to protect the conversion rights of the non-Orthodox in Israel.
“It was a bit distorted,” said Natalie Rose, a Jewish social services professional from Seattle. “There was a lot of relief among Conservative and Reform people, but I’m not sure they understood. He wasn’t explicit.”
Dr. Herzl Spiro, a federation activist from Milwaukee, said Netanyahu made clear that “the status quo decided by the Israeli Supreme Court is not acceptable to his coalition and that he is willing to pay a political price that damages the unity of the Jewish people.”
“I understand why he did what he did,” said Spiro. At the same time, “we’re in danger of blowing apart as a people.”
A year ago, Israel’s Supreme Court said there was no legal reason why non- Orthodox conversions should not be recognized in Israel. However, the court did not explicitly recognize such conversions, saying that it would be up to the Knesset to pass the appropriate legislation.
Netanyahu’s appearance via satellite came after the adoption of a resolution the day before by the CJF Board of Delegates. The measure called on the Israeli government not to pass or change any legislation that “would change the current situation regarding recognition of conversions.”
The resolution pointedly did not differentiate between Reform and Conservative conversions performed inside Israel and those in the Diaspora.
It thereby signaled a new willingness by the federation world to join the struggle for the legitimacy of non-Orthodox movements in Israel, where non- Orthodox denominations have no legal recognition.
The resolution generated strong protest from some Orthodox quarters, who viewed it as inappropriate meddling in internal Israeli affairs.
The CJF action came as legislation was expected to be submitted to the Knesset that would explicitly invalidate non- Orthodox conversions in Israel. Its impact on conversions performed abroad has been unclear.
The legislation was prompted by last year’s court ruling, which the Orthodox establishment viewed as a threat to its exclusive authority. Orthodox parties now in the governing coalition made support for such legislation a condition for their joining the coalition.
Netanyahu was scheduled to appear in person in Seattle, but canceled the trip because he believed that an agreement with the Palestinians was imminent on the redeployment of Israeli troops in Hebron.
He pledged to the G.A. delegates his government’s commitment to the agreements made by the previous Israeli government.
At the same time, he emphasized that such agreements have to be reciprocal and that he would hold the Palestinians to their obligations.
He also said a broad Israeli consensus had to be achieved before moving forward in the “pivotal negotiations” toward final-status agreements.
His remarks come against the backdrop of some speculation in Israel that he seeks some form of partnership with the opposition Labor Party in the interest of forging a national consensus.
Meanwhile, opposition leader and former Prime Minister Shimon Peres received a standing ovation before and after he delivered a lengthy and impassioned speech to the delegates, who interrupted him nearly a dozen times with applause.
After emotionally recounting the details of the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, he seemed to address the current prime minister.
“It is not enough to say you want peace,” it is a matter of making it and, in doing so, understanding the need for “compromises and concessions,” he said.
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