Rabbi Yaacov Toledano, Israel Minister for Religious Affairs, disclosed today that he had sent a personal letter to President Charles de Gaulle of France, asking permission to give up his French citizenship. Such permission is required by French law.
The Minister acted in compliance with his report to the Cabinet yesterday that he intended to renounce his French citizenship. The Minister’s holding of both Israeli and French citizenship came to light during a recent hearing before the Israeli Supreme Court on the validity of the nominations board for the Chief Rabbinate elections.
Rabbi Toledano said, in announcing his intention to give up his French status, that while Israeli law permits dual citizenship, he decided on dropping the French citizenship because of his Cabinet position. He gave that explanation in his letter to the French President, in which he also paid tribute to France.
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