Yisrael ba-Aliya Platform- Executive Summary

At the same time, there are areas where government involvement needs to be present - in encouraging the establishment of small businesses; in accelerating scientific research and development; in opening new world markets, particularly in the former Soviet Union, a region with great potential with which we now possess natural ties through the contacts and experience made available by the new olim.

HOUSING AND CONSTRUCTION

Yisrael ba-Aliya believes that steps must be taken to make housing affordable, within reach for every citizen of Israel. The movement sees the following policy changes as necessary to achieve this goal:

• Limit government control over land distribution;
• Dismantle the labor and construction materials cartels;
• Encourage the construction of small apartments for rent;
• Cancel the system of guarantors. The apartment itself should serve as the guarantee;
• Adjust the current government-subsidized mortgage housing and housing allowances for young couples, new olim, single-parent families, etc. to meet today's housing market. The mortgage should cover at least 70% of the cost of the apartment.

PEACE AND SECURITY

Yisrael ba-Aliya believes that the continuation of the aliya will serve as a crucial demographic factor in the country's long-term strategic planning. On the basis of broadnational consensus, the movement will strive to achieve peace with our neighbors - peace that will guarantee the security of the State and will assure the personal safety of its citizens. The peace process must be based on the following principles:

• The Jewish people possess an inalienable right to the Land of Israel;
• United Jerusalem as the capital of the Jewish State is non-negotiable;
• We recognize the establishment of the Palestinian autonomy. However, overall security in such an entity must remain in Israel's hands so that the autonomous area will not become a refuge for terrorists. Yisrael ba-Aliya opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state;
• Being that the State of Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East the peace process must be anchored on two provisos:
  • full compliance with all agreements by both sides;
  • progressive democratization of the sides represented by our negotiating partners, particularly in the area of human rights.

EDUCATION AND CULTURE

Yisrael ba-Aliya believes that Israeli culture will be enriched and given depth and variety by acknowledging the various Diaspora cultures brought to Israel. The movement supports propagating the cultural identity of Jews from the Diaspora. This identity should not be diluted and dissolved upon arrival in Israel.

The movement strives to transform an educational system which encourages mediocrity. Yisrael ba-Aliya believes that the educational system must help students realize their full potential, while instilling Jewish values into their lives. Toward this end, the following steps must be taken:

Introduce a full school day on the high-school, primary school and kindergarten level; Raise the teachers' training standards; Create a system of specialized schools - for physics, mathematics, foreign languages, etc. - in order to develop specific talents of the students Allot more hours to in-depth study of Jewish history and tradition, in all schools - religious and secular alike. Introducing a "History of Jewish Civilization" course will acquaint students with the different aspects of life, tradition and history of Jewish communities around the world; Expand the network of open universities, educational radio, and television programs, to teach the history, culture, literature and traditions of the Jewish people in Israel and in the Diaspora.

ALIYA ABSORPTION

Yisrael ba-Aliya acts to facilitate the successful and rapid integration of new olim and to reduce the social and psychological chasms that separate the newcomers from the rest of society. For this purpose we advocate that:

• Legislation of an Absorption Law be enacted, defining the rights and obligations of the Oleh. This will eliminate arbitrary actions by government offices and local councils which affect the Oleh;
• The Law of Return remain unchanged;
• A strategic, long-range plan for the absorption of Aliya be developed. This will take into consideration the Oleh's country of origin, age, family status, etc.;
• The authority of local councils be expanded in regard to spending moneys designated for absorption;
• The olim be provided with greater opportunity to study Hebrew in Ulpanim;
• The United States Loan Guarantees be used for their original purpose -absorption of the Aliya.

GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS

Yisrael ba-Aliya strives to strengthen the democratic character of Israel, and supports the following changes in the existing system:

• 50% of the Knesset members should be elected on a regional level, and 50% on the national level;
• A Cabinet member cannot serve concurrently as a member of the Knesset. A Knesset member who joins the Cabinet must resign from the Knesset;
• A Referendum Law must be enacted. The movement believes that decisions which can distrupt the delicate balance of unity of the Jewish People and which can affect the character and future of the State of Israel - such as territorial compromises, changes in the status quo, and changes in the Law of Return - must be approved by a broad national consensus and a special majority of the people.

HUMAN RIGHTS AND DEMOCRACY

Yisrael ba-Aliya advocates that Israel must:

• Expedite legislation of additional basic laws guaranteeing the freedom of speech, religion and assembly, and giving statuary support for the principles of equality of citizens;
• Combat all employment-related discrimination, based upon nationality, religion, sex, age and country of origin;
• Fighting the defamation of any national or ethnic group in the media;
• Introduce legislation that will defend the rights of detainees by limiting initial detention to 24 hours; that will assure the detainee's immediate access to an attorney; that will provide for state legal aid in all criminal procedures.

STATE AND RELIGION

Yisrael ba-Aliya believes that the Jewish religion constitutes the basis of the spiritual existence of the Jewish people. However, we recognize the fact that in any wave of aliya from any country, there are always non-Jews who arrive as well, as relatives of the Jews who make aliya. In order to assure the continuation of the ingathering process, the movement will seek -- in cooperation with the Rabbinate and religious institutions -- solutions to the difficult problems pertaining to marriages and the burial of non-Jews.

• Means have to be found to permit marriage for citizens who, according to the religious law, are unable to marry in Israel;
• Alternative burial societies, that will grant burial rights regardless of religion, must be established. The creation of alternative burial sites has to be accelerated;
• Bureaucratic obstacles to conversion must be removed.

ECOLOGY

Yisrael ba-Aliya believes that radical changes must be enacted in Israel's ecological policy. For this purpose, the movement recommends the:

• Enactment of an Environmental Protection Law, similar to those in many other developed countries. This law will supplant the existing, and often contradictory, statutes and will serve to safeguard the country's natural resources;
• Development of a water recycling system, which will permit the use of filtered water in Israel's towns and cities;
• Intensification of the ecological supervision over industries using toxic substances such as bromine, asbestos, freon, chrome, and the heavy metals;
• Development of refuse recycling technology;
• Creation of a special ecological center, which will also serve as a research and testing facility.

ISRAEL-DIASPORA RELATIONS

Yisrael ba-Aliya believes that strong Israel-Diaspora relations, along with the ingathering of the exiles, constitute an essential component of Zionism. Support for Jewish communities around the world must be a priority. We seek to involve Diaspora Jewry as an active partner in the development of the State of Israel. Furthermore we advocate that:

• Any Israeli support of Diaspora Jewry activities be carried out in coordination between the local Jewish, international Jewish and Israeli organizations;
• Diaspora Jewry participate actively and directly in projects for the development of the State of Israel, and take part in the decision-making process regarding issues that affect the entire Jewish People;
• Israel-Diaspora relations be free of narrow party or political interests. With this in mind, the Jewish Agency should be reorganized so that it separates its activities from the intrigues of internal Israeli politics;
• A special corps of teachers be trained to teach both in Israel and the Diaspora, and that teacher and student exchange programs be encouraged, in order to bridge the gaps between Jews in the Diaspora and Israelis.