Prime Minister Ehud Olmert rejected a proposal by Sephardic Chief Rabbi Shlomo Amar to amend the Law of Return, which would not grant Jewish converts immediate citizenship.
A letter was sent by Prime Minister's Office Director General Raanan Dinur in response to the Conservative Movement in Israel’s proposal to change the Law of Return.
The law currently states that a person born to a Jewish mother or who has converted to Judaism is considered Jewish and has the right for Israeli citizenship.
Rabbi Amar wanted to even go as far as saying those who have had Orthodox conversions could not be recognized as Jews under the Law of Return.
Amar also fears that the government would eventually recognize non-Orthodox marriages and conversions. Conservative and Reform rabbis would be able to conduct conversions abroad and the converts would be able to immigrate to Israel.