Israel’s policy on Jewish conversion is in turmoil after it emerged this week that the Interior Ministry would not recognise conversions in a Ugandan community.
Members of the nearly 2,000-strong Abayudaya community believed they were eligible for Israeli citizenship under the Law of Return after they underwent conversion with the Conservative movement in the United States, but the residency application of one member was rejected on the basis he was not Jewish.
Interior Minister Arye Deri is the leader of Israel’s Strictly Orthodox party, Shas.
The decision contradicted both the Jewish Agency, which considers the Ugandan community to be Jewish, and a government-commissioned report published in February which recommended focusing more resources on congregations like the Abayudaya.
