After the occupation began in 1967, Israel declared the West Bank and the Gaza Strip closed areas. Movement into and out of them required approval of the military commander. A census was then held, and every person over the age of sixteen who was living in the Occupied Territories and present there at the time of the census was given permanent residency status in the Occupied Territories. Israel denied residents who were not present during the census their right to live in the Occupied Territories. These constituted more than 300,000 Palestinians who had been expelled from the Occupied Territories or had left them during or immediately after the 1967 war (most going to Jordan), or who had been living in other countries during the war.

Even those who were given permanent residency status were liable to lose it. For instance, Israel revoked the permanent status of residents who stayed outside the Occupied Territories for more than three years without extending their exit permit. Over the years, Israel revoked the residency rights of more than 100,000 persons on this basis.

Since 1967, state officials have claimed that approving requests for family unification would pose a problem “with security consequences.” They have never explained these consequences. However, comments by state officials indicate that the real reason for the refusal is a demographic objective: to prevent an increase in the Palestinian population in the Occupied Territories by limiting immigration of spouses and encouraging emigration of families.