MIFTAH
Monday, 18 March. 2024
 
Your Key to Palestine
The Palestinian Initiatives for The Promotoion of Global Dialogue and Democracy
 
 
 

Israel is implementing an undeclared policy of denying foreign nationals entry/re-entry into the occupied Palestinian territories in order to achieve the following political objectives: isolate the Palestinians, continue its control over demographics in favour of the Jewish population, and punish the Palestinians personally and developmentally because of the January election results.

Israel’s security claims regarding this policy are false. In many cases, this policy amounts to deportation. Many of those now being denied entry are, in fact, residents of the occupied territories (for family or work reasons). They had achieved this residency status legally (in some cases for decades on end) by relying on a system that Israel allowed in order to avoid giving out permanent or temporary residency status in the occupied territories. Such people are unable to apply for a permit to reenter through the Israeli consulates in various countries.

Until June 2006, this system allowed foreign nationals to enter on a three-month tourist visa. There were visa denials then as well (the case of Jordanians has always been especially severe), but they were not applied as systematically as they are now to holders of non-Arab nationalities. As the visa expiration date neared, such temporary visa holders resorted to exiting and re-entering the occupied territories, thus gaining an extension.

When Israel started implementing this policy at the borders (the announcement in Ma’ariv that gave the first alert was on June 22, 2006), many of the people who had been following this system for years were caught unawares.

Foreign nationals who are denied entry (whether they are coming in for the first time or are re-entering) are being told that they must get a permit. However, when they contact the Israeli consulates in their countries, people quickly discover that there is no such thing to be had. Nationals of various countries who have been denied entry have complained to the consulates of their countries in Israel, but these consulates, though sympathetic, have not been able to do anything.

It is possible for foreign nationals working with an international organisation registered with the Israeli ministry of social affairs to obtain a B-type visa if the organisation applies on their behalf two months in advance.

It is possible for foreign nationals whose visas have not yet expired (i.e., who are residing in the occupied territories legally on some sort of visa) to apply for renewal “up to four times” through the Palestinian ministry of civil affairs (which acts as the conduit of such applications to the Israeli authorities). But beyond that, there is no redress. Many spouses whose children, wives or husbands are now stranded outside the country have tried to get a permit through this Palestinian ministry or the District Civilian Affairs Office (DCO) or Beit Eel with no avail.

In terms of numbers, the Campaign for the Right of Entry/Re-entry in the occupied Palestinian territories has documented dozens of cases, but this is the tip of the iceberg. Contact person for documentation is Anita Abdullah (anita@birzeit.edu).

B’Tselem estimates that there are 16,000 foreign nationals living with their families “illegally” in the occupied territories, and are therefore restricted in their movements and travel. This figure gives a sense of the scope of the problem with regard to residency/family unification as it relates to those needing to achieve it in some legal way.

B’Tselem also estimates that since the start of the Intifada in September 2000, the Israeli authorities have refused to process 120,000 family unification applications.

The policy of denying visas is closely related to family unification, because entering and reentering on a temporary visa had been a mechanism by which people denied family unification through the limited and restricted procedures that Israel had been imposing could achieve it. In many cases, the spouse being denied entry is the major breadwinner in a family, and that person’s job is in the occupied territories. So the economic burden is heavy.

Additionally, businesspeople who need to reside in the occupied territories because of job or investment opportunities (as opposed to living with their families and also contributing to the economy) are being denied entry and the required residency. The same goes for teachers, researchers and students at universities and schools. In short, Palestinians are being deprived of foreign expertise of any kind unless it comes in an international aid package.

 
 
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