Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is planning to introduce controversial legislation to require those wanting to become Israeli citizens to pledge loyalty to the "nation-state of the Jewish people", it has emerged.
Under Israeli law, Jews wanting to immigrate to Israel are granted automatic citizenship and non-Jews have to take a loyalty oath to the "state of Israel".
The amendment, which would win favour with one of Mr Netanyahu's key coalition partners, is likely to further exacerbate Palestinians. Arab citizens of Israel make up some 20 per cent of the country's population.
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who leads the right-wing Israel Our Home party has advocated a loyalty oath to the Jewish state for all Israelis, including Arab citizens.
The announcement came as the newly-launched peace talks with the Palestinians remained in crisis following a recent Israeli decision to let Jewish settlers build on Palestinian land, after a 10-month Israeli moratorium on building new houses in West Bank Jewish settlements expired.
Mr Netanyahu has so far refused to extend the partial freeze on construction and the Palestinians have threatened to pull out of the direct negotiations unless Israel extends the freeze.
Mr Lieberman has made no secret of his doubts about the likelihood of a Middle East peace deal with Palestinians, saying at the United Nations last week that it could "take decades."
His party, known as Yisrael Beiteinu in Hebrew, opposes any further concessions to the Palestinians on settlement building.
The US has offered Mr Netanyahu a package of incentives to put before his cabinet to help him persuade them to extend the freeze by 60 days, including security guarantees and increased military aid.
Mr Netanyahu's proposal appears to be designed to win the backing of pro-settler coalition partners like Israel our Home to extend the settlement freeze.
The amendment would require non-Jews to pledge loyalty to the "democratic nation-state of the Jewish people," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
"The state of Israel is the nation-state of the Jewish people. This principle guides the government's policy and it is a cornerstone of Israeli law," the official quoted Mr Netanyahu as saying at a meeting behind closed doors to discuss the issue.
"It is therefore logical that this principle appears in the loyalty oath taken by individuals wanting to become citizens of Israel," the prime minister said.
The official said Mr Netanyahu would ask his government on Sunday to approve the amendment, which must be passed in parliament before it becomes law.
Mr Netanyahu has said the Palestinians must recognise Israel as a Jewish nation-state as part of any future peace deal for the creation of an independent Palestinian state.
The Palestinians have rejected his call to recognise Israel as a Jewish nation-state.
"The logic is, we must demand from ourselves what Israel is asking others to recognise," the Israeli official said.
Reuters