JERUSALEM: Caving in to pressure from far right members of his coalition, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has backed a new law requiring prospective citizens of Israel to swear an oath of allegiance to a ''Jewish, democratic'' state.

The amended citizenship law, likely to be ratified by parliament on Sunday, is targeted at non-Jews, particularly Palestinians marrying Israeli citizens.

Because all Jews have a guaranteed right to Israeli citizenship, Jews emigrating to Israel will not be required to swear the new oath of allegiance.

''Israel is the Jewish people's homeland,'' Mr Netanyahu said. ''It is so in its essence, in its government, its symbols, holidays and language, and that should be reflected by its Citizenship Act.''

Anyone who refuses to pledge allegiance to a Jewish state will be ineligible for citizenship.