Earlier versions of the regulations were blasted for certain
stipulations regarding Palestinians and their romantic partnerships. One
rule stipulated that foreigners who entered into a relationship with a
Palestinian in the West Bank would have to declare it to the Israeli
government within 30 days of said relationship’s start, if they wanted
to qualify for a visa or visa extension.
Following heavy backlash, COGAT released a revised, final version of
the document in September, which walked back on some of the more
widely-criticized rules. But the discriminatory essence of the regulations, and many of the original draconian restrictions, remained in place.
Under the new procedures, the categories of foreigners who will be
allowed to receive visitor visas to enter the West Bank have shrunk
dramatically, and the process to receive a visitor’s visa or extended
stay permit have become even more difficult.
In addition to affecting visiting students, university professors,
business people, tourists, artists, humanitarian workers and more, the
new restrictions will have the most devastating effects on Palestinian
families.
Tourist visas to visit family in the West Bank are limited to spouses and “immediate” relatives, meaning that grandparents,
grandchildren, uncles, in-laws, and even romantic partners who carry
foreign passports or live abroad would be denied entry, including those who were born in the oPt.
The regulations also lay out a strict set of rules that apply to the
foreign spouses of Palestinians, preventing them from receiving long
term visas unless they meet a list of stringent requirements set out by
Israeli authorities.
For those who are not yet married to Palestinians, but are romantically involved, the new procedures say foreigners
in relationships with Palestinians must still inform Israeli
authorities of their relationship if they wish to apply for an entry
visa, or visa renewal.
At the end of the day, however, the procedures state that even if applicants meet all the requirements set out by Israeli authorities, Israel is not obligated to approve their requests.
The most notable aspect of the new regulations is that it only applies to foreigners visiting Palestinians in the West Bank. It does
not apply to the hundreds of thousands of Israeli settlers living
illegally in the territory, their foreign spouses, partners, or family
members.
Human rights groups like HaMoked and Right To Enter Campaign say
these new restrictions will have devastating effects on Palestinian
family life, and contribute to the further isolation of Palestinian
society from the outside world. |