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world news Diamars 6 Juli 2021

Israel looks to renew law that keeps out Palestinian spouses

(AP) — Israel’s parlia- the law.
ment was set to vote Mon-
day on whether to renew a Ahead of the vote, Israel’s
temporary law first enact- new prime minister, Naftali
ed in 2003 that bars Arab Bennett, called on Netan-
citizens of Israel from yahu to join him in renewing
extending citizenship or the law. “Harming state secu-
even residency to spouses rity for a quarter of a political
from the occupied West point is not the right thing to
Bank and Gaza. do,” he said.

Critics, including many left- Parliamentary debates
wing and Arab lawmakers, stretched late into the night
say it’s a racist measure aimed Monday, and it remained un-
at restricting the growth of clear when the vote to renew
Israel’s Arab minority, while the temporary law would
supporters say it’s needed be held. It was set to expire
for security purposes and to Tuesday night.
preserve Israel’s Jewish char-
acter. Dozens of families held a
demonstration outside the
The law creates an array of Knesset, Israel’s parliament,
difficulties for Palestinian ahead of the vote, which was
families that span the war- expected late Monday.
drawn and largely invisible
frontiers separating Israel “We want stability in this “It was passed in the middle group seized power there in are extremely rare.
from east Jerusalem, the West country, like anyone else,” of the intifada, and now we 2007.
Bank and Gaza, territories it said Maryam Abu Arar, from are in a very different period Human Rights Watch point-
seized in the 1967 war that the West Bank town of Beth- in time,” said Yuval Shany, a The law does not apply to the ed to the law as an example of
the Palestinians want for a lehem, who requires a permit legal expert at the Israel De- nearly 500,000 Jewish settlers the widespread discrimina-
future state. to live with her husband and mocracy Institute. Not only who live in the West Bank, tion faced by Palestinians —
four children in Israel. “We are attacks far rarer, but Israel who have full Israeli citizen- both inside Israel and in the
“You want your security, it’s want to live in a democratic has vastly improved its tech- ship. Under Israel’s Law of territories it controls — in a
no problem, you can check country, with peace and secu- nological abilities to monitor Return, Jews who come to report earlier this year that
each case by itself,” said Tai- rity for us as well.” Palestinians who enter, he Israel from anywhere in the said such practices amount to
seer Khatib. His wife of more said. “I don’t think the secu- world are eligible for citizen- apartheid.
than 15 years, from the West The Citizenship and Entry rity argument is very strong ship.
Bank city of Jenin, must reg- into Israel Law was enacted as at this point in time.” Israel rejects such allegations
ularly apply for permits to a temporary measure in 2003, Israel’s Arab minority, which and says Jewish and Arab
live with him and their three at the height of the second Because of the law, Arab citi- makes up 20% of the popu- citizens have equal rights.
children in Israel. intifada, or uprising, when zens have few if any avenues lation, has close familial ties Arab citizens have the right
Palestinians launched scores for bringing spouses from the to Palestinians in the West to vote, and the new govern-
“There’s no need for this col- of deadly attacks inside Israel. West Bank and Gaza into Is- Bank and the Gaza Strip and ment for the first time in-
lective punishment just be- Proponents said Palestinians rael. The policy affects thou- largely identifies with their cludes an Arab faction, which
cause you are Palestinian,” he from the occupied West Bank sands of families. cause. Arab citizens view the is opposed to the citizenship
said. and Gaza were susceptible to law as one of several forms of law.
recruitment by armed groups Male spouses over the age of discrimination they face in a
Israel’s dominant right-wing and that security vetting 35 and female spouses over country that legally defines But even as Defense Minister
parties strongly support the alone was insufficient. the age of 25, as well as some itself as a Jewish nation-state. Benny Gantz, a political cen-
law, and it has been renewed humanitarian cases, can apply trist, recently urged the right-
every year since being enact- The law has been continually for the equivalent of a tourist “This law sees every Pales- wing opposition to support
ed. But Israel’s new govern- renewed even after the upris- permit, which must be regu- tinian as an enemy and as the law on security grounds,
ment includes opponents of ing wound down in 2005 and larly renewed. The holders a threat, just because of his he also evoked demographic
the measure, and the right- the number of attacks plum- of such permits are ineligible ethnic and national affilia- concerns.
wing opposition led by for- meted. Today, Israel allows for driver’s licenses, public tion,” said Sawsan Zaher, a
mer Prime Minister Benja- more than 100,000 Palestin- health insurance and most lawyer with Adalah, an Arab “This law is essential for safe-
min Netanyahu — aiming to ian workers from the West forms of employment. Pal- rights group that has chal- guarding the country’s secu-
embarrass the government — Bank to enter on a regular estinian spouses from Gaza lenged the law in court. “The rity and Jewish and demo-
has warned it won’t provide basis. have been completely banned political message is very racist cratic character, and security
the votes needed to renew since the militant Hamas and very dangerous.” considerations need to be put
before all political consider-
Palestinians who are unable ations,” Gantz said in a state-
to get permits but try to live ment.
with their spouses inside Is-
rael are at risk of deportation. Ahmad Tibi, a prominent
Couples that move to the member of an Arab opposi-
West Bank live under Israeli tion party, called on fellow
military occupation. If their lawmakers to strike the law
children are born in the West down.
Bank, they would be subject
to the same law preventing “They should look at the eyes
spouses from entering Israel, of these children and these
though there is an exception families and then vote to
for minors. prevent this most racist law,”
he said as he met with the
The citizenship law also ap- demonstrators. “These fami-
plies to Jewish Israelis who lies should be allowed to live
marry Palestinians from the normally as all other families,
territories, but such unions wherever they decide to live.”