Israeli minister wants loyalty oath

JERUSALEM, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Israel's justice minister has threatened to leave the cabinet if parliament fails to pass a controversial loyalty oath, political observers say.

If enacted, the oath requires all naturalized citizens to pledge allegiance to Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, the Haaretz news agency reported Wednesday.

Observers told Haaretz that Justice Minister Yaakov Neeman said he would step down during a closed-door meeting about the oath with several cabinet members.

The meeting followed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision Monday that the oath should be required of all new citizens, Jews and non-Jews alike.

Public Diplomacy Minister Yuli Edelstein and coalition chairman Zeev Elkin, both immigrants from the former Soviet Union, told Neeman they won't support the bill in its current form.

They said it discriminates between Jews born in Israel and Jews who immigrate under the Law of Return.

A head count by Haaretz indicates the oath currently lacks the votes needed for Knesset approval.