Likud Minister Natan Sharansky proposed the delay to clarify certain issues, including the number of children who would become citizens. He also said he opposes conditioning the citizenship on the children's serving in the Israel Defense Forces.

The bill was proposed by the committee head, Interior Minister Avraham Poraz (Shinui). Poraz has tried throughout his term as interior minister to pass such a bill, and it is doubtful the subject will receive such high priority if he is replaced, as appears likely, given Shinui's stance against the 2005 state budget and Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plans to fire ministers who vote against it.