The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
decided to bar Jerusalem-born Americans from listing Israel as their country of
birth, drawing heavy criticism from many Jewish organizations. The case was
brought to the federal court of appeals by Ari and Naomi Zivotosfsky, who filed
a lawsuit on behalf of their son Menachem, demanding the enforcement of a 2002
law designed to allow United States citizens born in Jerusalem to have Israel
officially listed on their passport. In response, JFNA Board of Trustees Chair
Michael Siegal issued the following statement on behalf of the Jewish
Federations:
The court’s decision to nullify a law enacted by Congress
allowing American citizens born in Jerusalem to have Israel listed as their
birthplace is a real disappointment. We believe, as Congress does, that
Americans born in Jerusalem should have the choice to declare their birthplace
as the State of Israel. The United States position on the status of Jerusalem
has long been at odds with the strong views of the Jewish community but we hope
and believe that this law – which leaves 50,000 Americans without an official
birth country – will be reinstated by the Supreme Court and enforced by the
State Department.
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