The Israeli cabinet has approved a proposal to make non-Jews who want to become citizens swear an oath of loyalty to Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. This loyalty oath has been condemned by a number of Israeli politicians and Arab groups as inflammatory and racist. But the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the oath would make clear the essentially Jewish nature of Israel.

"The state of Israel is the nation state of the Jewish people and a democratic state belonging to all its citizens. Jews and non-Jews enjoy full rights. To my regret, there are those in the world who are trying to blur, not only the unique connection between the Jewish people and its homeland, but the unique connection between the Jewish people and its state."