28 July 2005: The Knesset approves law to restrict family reunification between Israelis and Palestinians

On Wednesday, July 27, the Knesset approved an amendment to the Citizenship Law which is intended to prevent family reunification between Arab citizens of Israel and Palestinians from the Occupied Territories. The law also applies to Palestinians from East Jerusalem who marry residents of the Occupied Territories.

This is a racist law, which forbids Israeli citizens or residents married to people from the West Bank or Gaza, from living with their spouse inside Israel, or in East Jerusalem. From now on, only Palestinian men over the age of 35 and Palestinian women over the age of 25 will be able to request family reunification.

All other Palestinians will not be able to enter Israel and live with their spouse. By contrast, Israelis who marry residents of any other place in the world will still be able to request family reunification for their spouse.