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The World - News from Feb. 6, 1986

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Israel’s Parliament rejected an attempt by religious parties to redefine who is a Jew after Prime Minister Shimon Peres warned that the move could split Jews around the world. The Knesset voted 61 to 47 against an amendment to the Law of Return, which automatically grants citizenship to Jews emigrating to Israel, that would have redefined Jewish identity to exclude people converted by non-Orthodox rabbis. The move sparked protests from American Jews, most of whom belong to the Reform and Conservative movements.

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