Israeli Army Problems

[Aryeh95]

As a dual citizen, i have had very little issues dealing with the army. My parents moved back when i was was a toddler. Any time I went to Israel before 18, I had no issues as long as I brought my Israeli passport. Upon turning 18 i needed to obtain a new Israeli passport. As I was a dual citizen living abroad, I was granted a status that allowed me to live in Israel for up to a year, as well as visit for no longer than months at a time. When i went to learn in Israel, I applied for an extension (with a letter from my yeshiva), and I was granted a two year extension. When I returned married, i made sure to go in a separate line than my wife (my original extension was still in effect.)

I have been back a number of times since and have yet to encounter an issue.

When I iy"h go back with my kids, i will have them go in with my wife so they don't have to deal with all these extra steps, especially if they would like to live there long term.

I think my issue is that I left Israel shortly after 16, which is after צו ראשון.
They told me I'm free to live the country until the age of 18, and then my parents moved back when I was 17 so I had no reason to go back.

[shwarmabob]

This is the response I got from the consulate, 3 months after I submitted my request.

Not good, strike option one from the list. Look for less expensive lawyers if you want to visit. The other option is to stay out of Israel. Sad but there are many other people in your shoes.
Eventually you reach the age that they won't care. When you go into the consulate in a decade to renew your passport, they will look at the screen run to the back office come back with a higher official who also looks at the screen. Then they will tell you that they need to contact Jerusalem before they can proceed. They will call your number in two weeks and tell you they got the go ahead to proceed with your application for passport renewal.

[YesThatsMe]

There are absolutely no benefits to having Israeli citizenship (other than not requiring a costly visa to some countries that like to punish Americans). As mentioned above, one can live a lifetime in Israel without becoming a citizen. It might be a small hassle to decline Israeli citizenship for children born there, but definitely worth it, in cases where that is an option.

This isn't so simple as "no benefit". I have 4 citizenships, one of which is Israeli, and would never give it up for various reasons. (and I don't currently live in Israel)

[ExGingi]

As a dual citizen, i have had very little issues dealing with the army. My parents moved back when i was was a toddler. Any time I went to Israel before 18, I had no issues as long as I brought my Israeli passport. Upon turning 18 i needed to obtain a new Israeli passport. As I was a dual citizen living abroad, I was granted a status that allowed me to live in Israel for up to a year, as well as visit for no longer than months at a time. When i went to learn in Israel, I applied for an extension (with a letter from my yeshiva), and I was granted a two year extension. When I returned married, i made sure to go in a separate line than my wife (my original extension was still in effect.)

I have been back a number of times since and have yet to encounter an issue.

When I iy"h go back with my kids, i will have them go in with my wife so they don't have to deal with all these extra steps, especially if they would like to live there long term.

Why don't you just renounce it?

[ExGingi]

This isn't so simple as "no benefit". I have 4 citizenships, one of which is Israeli, and would never give it up for various reasons. (and I don't currently live in Israel)

Why would you not give up the Israeli citizenship?

[YesThatsMe]

Why would you not give up the Israeli citizenship?

Mostly related to business (real estate), but Covid was a good wake up call too. I didn't miss a Yom Tov (except Pesach & Shavuos 2020 which wasn't due to citizenship)

[LoLo]

When I iy"h go back with my kids, i will have them go in with my wife so they don't have to deal with all these extra steps, especially if they would like to live there long term.

Do your wife/kids share your last name? They might easily pick up on it.

[aygart]

Do your wife/kids share your last name? They might easily pick up on it.

"Oh, Sara Cohen, and your children Yaakov and Moshe? You must be family with Avi!"

[LoLo]

"Oh, Sara Cohen, and your children Yaakov and Moshe? You must be family with Avi!"

I know a few people in this situation who stayed with their maiden name and registered their kids with that name as well for this reason.

[dealfinder11]

Why don't you just renounce it?

LOL!!! I tried a couple times. "ma atah omer?? Atah lo rrrratzah! yourrrrr jeweeesh!"

[ExGingi]

LOL!!! I tried a couple times. "ma atah omer?? Atah lo rrrratzah! yourrrrr jeweeesh!"

Honestly, I don't know why those clerks take any personal offense. It's a legitimate request. It is submitted to the minister of interior for approval. As long as there are no outstanding military or financial obligations, it is usually approved. I know a few people that did it. I am in the process.

[Sammy82]

When my son was born there many years ago, I not only renounced his citizenship, I paid 75NIS to get a letter saying he's not Israeli.

[Aryeh95]

When my son was born there many years ago, I not only renounced his citizenship, I paid 75NIS to get a letter saying he's not Israeli.

If only I could do that

[dealfinder11]

Honestly, I don't know why those clerks take any personal offense. It's a legitimate request. It is submitted to the minister of interior for approval. As long as there are no outstanding military or financial obligations, it is usually approved. I know a few people that did it. I am in the process.

Please keep us posted!

[ExGingi]

If only I could do that

If you have a few weeks to kill you can probably go there and get a פטור (just keep on telling them that you can't wait to get a gun to shoot some Arabs).

[m65]

Citizenship means (dubious) right to vote in elections, having an Israeli passport, and being subject to military draft

t.z. holders are subject to draft even if they are not citizens

[Happyguy]

This isn't so simple as "no benefit". I have 4 citizenships, one of which is Israeli, and would never give it up for various reasons. (and I don't currently live in Israel)

The reasons being?

[YitzyS]

This isn't so simple as "no benefit". I have 4 citizenships, one of which is Israeli, and would never give it up for various reasons. (and I don't currently live in Israel)

Is this your burner account?

how about African Israeli German french does that count as something?
That's me
23
married
Moved to lakewood from Israel 6 month ago

[Darth1]

Maybe @Darth1 can get you a better lawyer's name?

I asked my friend who did it through a lawyer and he said it was very expensive... He was in the process of making Aliyah/Chozer so he needed to do it

[AsherO]

I asked my friend who did it through a lawyer and he said it was very expensive... He was in the process of making Aliyah/Chozer so he needed to do it

You can renounce citizenship and then make Aliya? That makes no sense.