Israeli denial of entry policy continues despite promises made to the EU

by the Right to Entry Campaign, December 17th

Despite assurances given to the EU presidency by Israeli authorities, foreign passport-bearing Palestinians continue to be denied entry to the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). “Arbitrary denials of entry and expulsions have not stopped. No transparent rules or mechanisms are in place so far. Palestinian families, vital service providers and businesses remain vulnerable to arbitrary denials of entry and residency. This is especially hard to accept at a time of major Christian and Muslim traditional festivities when families want to be together more then ever”, said Anita Abdullah, speaking for the Campaign for the Right of Entry to the oPt.

For example, on Thursday December 14th, a Palestinian American national from Cleveland/Ohio, Linda Ali Mahmood, was refused entry at Ben Gurion airport. Linda, who is deaf like her brother Shukri, had traveled in the hope of spending time with her cancer stricken aunt but was denied entry allegedly because Shukri had overstayed his visa. Shukri’s passport had been submitted for regular visa renewal after October 16th when the Israeli Ministry of Interior liaison at the Israeli Civil Administration stopped processing renewals for foreigners married to Palestinian ID-holders.

On December 13th, the EU Presidency met with Israeli Major General Mishlav, Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) to discuss Israel’s policy on issuing visitor permits to foreign nationals residing with family or working in the oPt.

Several EU Member States have since informed their nationals that responsibility for issuing Israeli visitor visas for foreign passport holders entering the oPt has been transferred from the Ministry of Interior to COGAT, which is a part of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) command in the oPt. The EU Presidency also reported receiving the following assurances from General Mishlav:
• the policy changes and systems introduced by the Israeli Ministry of Interior three months ago have been cancelled;
• new rules have been adopted permitting foreign nationals seeking entry into the oPt to apply for three-month tourist visas and visa renewals;
• EU spouses of Palestinians should apply for 3 month permits while COGAT considers longer term alternatives;
• a COGAT liaison is now in place at Allenby Bridge crossing and a liaison will be in place at Ben Gurion Airport ‘within weeks,’ to prevent problems at crossing points.

The EU Member States have promised their nationals to monitor the implementation of the new procedures closely and have stated that they ‘shall continue to ensure that the issue of entry to the oPt for foreign nationals is continuously raised at the highest levels’. While the Campaign welcomes the efforts of foreign governments to resolve this urgent issue, tens of thousands of Palestinian families remain separated or at risk, and untold numbers of Palestinian educational and social service institutions and businesses continue to suffer the loss of critical personnel.

Contact: Basil Ayish Coordinator, Media Committee
(c) +970-(0)59-817-3953 (email) info@righttoenter.ps