Who said it was Israel? And the article was about Australian accounts. But I'm not going to deny a man his g0d-given Israel-bashing right. Proceed.

It was meant to be compulsory, but because of public outrage, it's only voluntary for the next 2 years, then it will be re-discussed. Thats how democracies work. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArtVty.jhtml?sw=biometric&itemNo=1133498