Proceedings at the World Zionist Congress were called to a halt after a debate ensued regarding proposed changes to the “Grandchild Clause” of Israel’s Law of Return.
Representatives from the Mizrachi faction proposed a resolution calling for the establishment of a committee that would review the issue in order to produce a consensus opinion surrounding changes to the clause. The Mizrachi delegates said that there are aspects to the clause that require changing but any adjustments would need to be done only after agreement from all parties within the Congress.
Left-wing parties in the Congress rejected that suggestion and said that no changes would be accepted even if made with the agreement between all the parties. The Mizrachi movement responded by choosing to filibuster the proceedings and prevent the passage of the proposals put forth by the left. The Mizrachi movement presented signatures from dozens of delegates demanding that any proposal from the left be voted upon with a public (named) vote.
These deliberations resulted in the immediate cessation of the Congress”s proceedings. The Congress”s presidium decided to convene in order to find a resolution between the Mizrachi and the left parties. The left was forced to agree that the Mizrachi”s proposal would be reviewed under the condition that that they would continue to gather the relevant signatures.
Recognizing the historic nature of the event and in the spirit of promoting unity between members of the Congress, particularly ahead of Israel”s Yom Hazikaron (Memorial Day) and Yom Haatzmaut (Independence Day), the Mizrachi movement voted to delay any further votes until after the conclusion of the upcoming days of national commemoration.
Roi Abeccasis, Delegate of the World Mizrachi to the National Institutions responded to the decision saying, “Our proposal is intended to ensure unity between the people of Israel and the Jewish Diaspora. On issue of such historic consequence, any decisions should only be made with the full consent of all the parties.”