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The Repressive Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law - by Stephen Lendman
On July 18, the Knesset again extended the "Temporary Order" as it's done annually since 2003, affecting thousands of couples, one member an Israeli citizen, the other a Palestinian resident or refugee in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran or elsewhere, denied their right to reunite legally with spouses in Israel.
A new Physicians for Human Rights - Israel (PHR-IL) position paper titled, "No civil status, no hope: A close look at the 'Humanitarian' Committee of the Citizenship Law (CL)" explains its harm, using several case study examples.
Since enacted in 2003, it's prevented thousands of couples from living normally, most unable to reunite, others residing in Israel without health insurance, work permits, or other social benefits.
To quell public criticism, a "humanitarian committee" was established, charged with reviewing reunification requests based on humanitarian, not legal, grounds - how couples live together elsewhere.
PHR-IL reviewed seven individual cases gotten by referral from 2007 - 2010.
The "Humanitarian Committee"
On March 21, 2007, the Knesset authorized the Interior Minister to grant legal status to non-resident spouses on "humanitarian grounds," based on the Committee's recommendation, established for this purpose - called the "Humanitarian Committee," functioning, in fact, as a racist one, aided by a vague mandate requiring "special humanitarian reasons" not defined or specifically who qualifies.
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