Israel reduces visas and tightens the conditions for the entry of foreigners in the Palestinian territories

Foreigners must inform the Israeli Ministry of Defense if they start a romantic relationship with a Palestinian citizen

Sep. 3 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Israeli Civil Administration that governs the entry into the Palestinian territories will have new regulations starting this Monday that reduce visas and toughen the conditions for the entry of foreign citizens.

Specifically, the number of visas for study purposes is limited, both to attend classes and to teach them at Palestinian universities, as well as for businessmen and humanitarian organizations. The amendment affects in particular the exchange programs of the European Union.

The new regulations also provide that any foreigner who “forms a couple” with a Palestinian citizen must inform the Israeli Defense Ministry.

If the relationship begins after the arrival of the foreign citizen, you will have a period of 30 days to report any engagement, wedding or the start of cohabitation “whatever comes first”.

If the formalization of the relationship is not reported within 90 days, they will be deported immediately. If they marry, they must leave within 27 months and stay away for at least half a year.

These rules do not apply to visitors to Jewish settlements in the West Bank, but they do apply to Palestinians with passports from another country visiting the West Bank. They will also no longer be able to apply for the visa at the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, but will have to process it with at least 45 days.

These regulations will deprive “thousands of Palestinian families of their right to live together without interruption and live a normal family life,” denounced the Israeli Human Rights group HaMoked, responsible for the latest appeals against the regulations that have ultimately failed.

Last week it was the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, who criticized Israel’s refusal to renew the visas of its personnel in the occupied territories.

“The 15 international workers from my Office in Palestine, who had been working in the country for 26 years, had no choice but to leave in 2020,” Bachelet said. “Since then I have tried to find a solution to this problem, but Israel continues to refuse,” he said.