Israeli government makes Palestinian Jerusalemites foreigners in their city
Freda Guttman - IMEMC - Monday, 12 June 2006, 13:06 | 23.06.2006 09:09 | Anti-militarism | Free Spaces | Repression | World
The Israeli government announced recently that it would restrict the right of Palestinian citizens who hold foreign passports, in addition to their required Israeli-issued ID and Palestinian passports, to live in Jerusalem, the future capital of the Palestinian state. The
government will require all Palestinian holders of foreign passports to leave the country every three months in order to obtain a visa, as is the case for any foreigner. Obtaining the visa is dependent on two factors: one is the mood of the soldiers on duty occupying the borders, and the second is what is written in the computer. Many foreigners and Palestinians have inexplicable black-marks next to their names, which makes their entry extremely difficult. Some are required to spend hours with Israeli interrogators before gaining entrance, while others are not allowed entrance at all. Others still breeze through without question.
government will require all Palestinian holders of foreign passports to leave the country every three months in order to obtain a visa, as is the case for any foreigner. Obtaining the visa is dependent on two factors: one is the mood of the soldiers on duty occupying the borders, and the second is what is written in the computer. Many foreigners and Palestinians have inexplicable black-marks next to their names, which makes their entry extremely difficult. Some are required to spend hours with Israeli interrogators before gaining entrance, while others are not allowed entrance at all. Others still breeze through without question.
A coalition of civil society organizations is working to defend the rights of Jerusalemites against the Israeli government's decision, which it called a violation of human rights. The coalition cites the right of Palestinians to choose their residence, which is guaranteed by all international norms and charters.
The latest Israeli policy of deportation is one that is in keeping with the Israeli attempt to change the demographic reality of Jerusalem. In a report issued Wednesday the coalition demanded that the Israeli government respect the right of the individual to live in their family environment and to stop violating the rights of children to live with both parents. There are hundreds of cases of a mother or father holding Jerusalem ID, while the other holds West Bank identification. The coalition warned that this is one of the most severe Israeli policies against Jerusalemites.
This kind of deportation policy and withdrawing of identity cards of Jerusalemites began in the early 1990s, according to the coalition. More than 20,000 Palestinians have lost their rights to live in the city under various pretexts, ranging from having a residence outside the municipal boundaries [which have further changed now that Israel has built the Wall through much of East Jerusalem] to being away from Jerusalem for more than seven years for the purpose of study or work. The Israelis call the latter provision the "Law of Absence."
The case of Nabil Helal is typical. His wife has a Jerusalem ID, and he himself grew up in the city, but he was refused an internal identity card and was forced to travel to the United States to find work. For the last five years he has been attempting to return, but has been consistently denied entry. According to the Society of Palestinian–American Consuls, the Israeli policy contravenes agreements of reciprocity between European and American citizens, as well as agreements between the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government. (Jerusalem)
Maisa Abu Ghazaleh 7 June 06 .abridged from PNN by Freda
The latest Israeli policy of deportation is one that is in keeping with the Israeli attempt to change the demographic reality of Jerusalem. In a report issued Wednesday the coalition demanded that the Israeli government respect the right of the individual to live in their family environment and to stop violating the rights of children to live with both parents. There are hundreds of cases of a mother or father holding Jerusalem ID, while the other holds West Bank identification. The coalition warned that this is one of the most severe Israeli policies against Jerusalemites.
This kind of deportation policy and withdrawing of identity cards of Jerusalemites began in the early 1990s, according to the coalition. More than 20,000 Palestinians have lost their rights to live in the city under various pretexts, ranging from having a residence outside the municipal boundaries [which have further changed now that Israel has built the Wall through much of East Jerusalem] to being away from Jerusalem for more than seven years for the purpose of study or work. The Israelis call the latter provision the "Law of Absence."
The case of Nabil Helal is typical. His wife has a Jerusalem ID, and he himself grew up in the city, but he was refused an internal identity card and was forced to travel to the United States to find work. For the last five years he has been attempting to return, but has been consistently denied entry. According to the Society of Palestinian–American Consuls, the Israeli policy contravenes agreements of reciprocity between European and American citizens, as well as agreements between the Palestinian Authority and the Israeli government. (Jerusalem)
Maisa Abu Ghazaleh 7 June 06 .abridged from PNN by Freda
Freda Guttman - IMEMC - Monday, 12 June 2006, 13:06
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Strange history...
23.06.2006 19:36
Obviously I was mistaken. It was only when the Jordanians came and occupied East Jerusalem that some so-called ´Palestinians´ started living there. The Palestinians have absolutely no claim to that city, because even though a lot of their ancestors were probably Jewish as well as Arab and Christian, you have more right to that city because some ancestor of yours lived there 2000 years ago.
The only right you have to that place is that you made yourself with weapons and violence.
Hermes
No Hermes
23.06.2006 22:15
You need to recheck your history. Read the real books.
a) When Jeruslaem was recaptured from the Crusaders it was by Saladin and his forces. The Arabs LIKE to claim Saladin as one of their own but he wasn't (he was a KURD) and his army was primarily a mix of Kurds and Jews (back then the Jews of "Kurdistan" were rather warlike)
b) Zionism is NOT a phenomenon of the late 19th-20th Century. The CURRENT wave of Zionism is, but there were continuous attempts from Roman times to the present and there was never a periood when the land was "Judenrein".
The Jews present in what is now Israel BEFORE the modern wave lived primarily in Jerusalem with populations also in S'fad and Hebron (until 1929)
c) Plenty of Palestinains living in Jerusalem have Israeli identity cards and are Israeli citizens. THAT in fact is going to be a major political problem and I don't mean for the Israelis. The end of the occupation is coming and with it a "two state" solution. But it is unlikely to be a case of friendly neighbors with open borders. Palestinains with residency rights are going to have to CHOOSE nationality.
Mike Novack
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stepbystpefarm mtdata.com
Red Herring
23.06.2006 23:05
Zionists Are Masters At Propaganda
more logic
24.06.2006 21:37
blue herring
No Different
25.06.2006 01:10
But no, the Palestinians have every right to return to the places Zionists from Europe drove them out of.
Zionism, Irrelevant Within A Generation