Palestinians unable to reunite with families see little reward in ending of citizenship law middleeasteye.net - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from middleeasteye.net Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Originally published on July 6, 2021 5:53 pm
JERUSALEM In a blow to Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Israel s parliament failed to renew a controversial law that prevents Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza from getting residency in Israel after they marry Palestinians with Israeli citizenship.
The Tuesday vote was 59-59. The law required a simple majority to pass in what s usually a routine annual renewal. A new effort to reinstate the law could still come soon.
Bennett, who took office less than a month ago, was undermined by several members of his governing coalition, including those of the United Arab List party and a rebel member of his own Yamina party, who all voted against extending the law.
How Israel s political hodgepodge helped end its contentious citizenship law france24.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from france24.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The deadline for reextending the legislation is midnight on Tuesday.
Israeli Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked gives a statement at the Knesset in Jerusalem on July 5, 2021. (Photo by Menahem KAHANA / AFP)
During the Knesset debate after midnight Monday, Shaked interrupted the proceedings to announce a deal had been reached in a telephone call between coalition party leaders.
The agreement was put forward by Labor lawmaker Ibtisam Mara’ana-Menuhin and includes reducing the current extension to just six months, issuing some 1,600 Palestinian families with A-5 residency visas and establishing a committee to find humanitarian solutions to the other 9,700 Palestinians residing in Israel on military-issued stay permits.
Israel s new government fails to extend controversial citizenship law bbc.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from bbc.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.