Israel decides to engage in "demographic self-defense"

Jerusalem Post:

The government must be congratulated for having summoned the courage – even if belatedly – to cease citing immediate security concerns as its reason for making it more difficult for Palestinians and other Arabs to obtain Israeli citizenship. It's about time official Israel told it like it is and affirmed this state's right to self-preservation.

Announcing the formation of an interministerial panel charged with composing a new immigration bill geared to toughening citizenship criteria for non-Jews, prime minister Ariel Sharon finally said what should have been stated long ago: "The State of Israel has every right to maintain and protect its Jewish character, even if that means that this would impact on its citizenship policy."

In other words, from now on the country will stop pretending that its immigration laws should be devoid of demographic considerations, and seek ostensibly more palatable reasons, like the fear of terror attacks.

Countries like Denmark, the Netherlands and Austria have recently adopted far more stringent citizenship regulations to restrict the inflow of Muslim immigrants. New Danish restrictions have already reduced "family reunion" applications by 60 percent since 2002 alone.

Why should Israel be afraid of doing likewise? Israel, moreover, is far more imperiled than any European state. We have no less of a right than Europe to defend ourselves, both in terms of national character and security. Moreover, paradoxically those beating hard on our gates hail from enemy states with an irredentist agenda.

No doubt Arab immigrants are also enticed by higher living standards here and greater economic opportunities. Though viciously demonized by the Arab media, Israel curiously remains an attractive destination. In view of all this, maintaining the current demographic balance isn't a matter of preference but of life and death.

Of course, when Europeans say that they want to keep Europe Christian they are called racists and bigots. On the other hand, when Israelis say that they want to keep Israel Jewish this is considered to be "common sense".