Anyone who can prove a "connection" to the Jewish people would have the right to citizenship under the Law of Return without having to go through any religious ceremony, according to the Meretz platform, whose sections on religion and state were published Monday.

The platform is based on the party´s 1999 document, but some issues on separating religion and state have been given new emphasis, including the idea of "secular conversion." According to that idea, Jewishness would be recognized according to "liberal and pluralistic" criteria.

The party will not be drafting a new platform for this election, but gave its leader, Yossi Sarid, the go-ahead to refine the document and give new emphasis to some issues.

Yossi Beilin, who has joined the Meretz Kesset list, has waged a long campaign for reforming the Law of Return.

The platform also calls for abolishing the state-funded Chief Rabbinate and for the role to be fulfilled instead by voluntary organizations which would be responsible only for those who accept their authority.

The party also proposes that only a few hundred outstanding yeshiva students be given draft deferments instead of the current system of indiscriminate exemptions.

Additional positions on separating religion and state include support for civil marriage and divorce, public transportation on Shabbat, and guaranteeing abortion rights. (© 1995-2002, The Jerusalem Post 12/16/02)