Forbidden Families
New report by B'Tselem and HaMoked
Following enactment of the Nationality and Entry into Israel Law on 31 July 2003, thousands of couples will be forced to live apart. Children will be separated from their parents at the age of 12 or will become lawbreakers through no fault of their own. Many families will remain in Israel with no legal status in order to live together.
Today, (27 January) B'Tselem and HaMoked released a report describing the implications for residents of East Jerusalem of the Nationality and Entry into Israel Law (Temporary Order) 5763-2003. The report demonstrates that Israel deliberately misstated the purpose of the law, claiming it was necessary for security reasons, in order to conceal the real basis for the legislation – demographic concerns. Yet, even the security claims are refuted: According to Interior Ministry's figures, 23 of the 100,000-140,000 Palestinians who came to Israel through the family unification process – only some 0.02 percent – ostensibly took some part in attacks against Israelis. As such, the law constitutes severe collective punishment, a form of discrimination with no legitimate basis.
B'Tselem and HaMoked urge the government of Israel to change its policy and treat its citizens and residents equally, and call on the Knesset to repeal the new law. The Interior Ministry must reinstate the procedures for family unification and the registration of children, and process these requests efficiently and fairly. These procedures must recognize the right of residents of East Jerusalem to marry whomever they choose and to live with their spouse and children wherever they wish.
Background: On 31 March 2002, then-Minister of Interior, Eli Yishai, froze the handling of all applications for family unification for Palestinians – the process through which an alien spouse received legal status in Israel. Some two months later, on 12 May, the government of Israel decided to maintain the freeze "until a new policy was formulated." On 31 July 2003, the Knesset enacted the Nationality and Entry into Israel Law (Temporary Order), 5763-2003. The law prohibits Israeli residents who married, or who in the future marry residents of the Occupied Territories to live with them in Israel. The law also makes it impossible to register children born in the Occupied Territories to parents who are Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem. Except for this sweeping prohibition, no "new policy" has been drafted. A number of petitions have been filed with the High Court of Justice challenging the government's decision and the new law. These petitions are currently pending.
To view summary: http://www.btselem.org/English/Publications/Summaries/Forbidden_Families_2004.asp
To download the report:
171 KB Word 97 format; http://www.btselem.org/Download/2004_Forbidden_Families_eng.doc
319 KB RTF format; http://www.btselem.org/Download/2004_Forbidden_Families_eng.rtf
To download the law in English (translated by B'Tselem)
(24KB in Word 97 format) http://www.btselem.org/English/Legal_Documents/030730_Citizenship_Law.rtf
Please also see:
Press Conference to mark the release of HDIP’s report: “Health and Segregation”, January 28, 2004;
http://www.hdip.org
Diagnosing Benny Morris: the mind of a European settler
by Gabriel Ash, http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article2379.shtml
and
IMPRISONED FOR MOBILIZING NONVIOLENT RESISTANCE
[Budrus, RAMALLAH]
Yesterday, January 29, 2004, Na’im Ahmed Hussein Morrar, from the village of Budrus was sentenced to 4 months of Administrative Detention at a military court proceeding held at the Ofer Military Base in Ramallah. Na’im was abducted from his home along with his brother, Ayed Ahmed Hussein Morrar in the early morning hours of 15 January 2004 for their role in organizing the village’s nonviolent resistance against the destruction of their land and the erection of a wall that will turn their village into a ghetto.
In a letter to former MK Yossi Beilin, the Shabak (Israeli Secret Service) wrote that Ayed and Na’im were detained for organizing the actions against the “Security Fence.” In a surprising statement, the military judge, Adrian Agafi, stated: [Translated from Hebrew] “It’s impossible that the military commander will use his power to decide on Administration Detention of a person only because of actions of this kind” (taking part in demonstrations against the Wall). Nevertheless, Na’im was sentenced to 4 months of Administrative Detention based on “secret evidence” submitted by the Shabak.
There are hundreds of Palestinians locked up in Israeli jails or military camps*, held in Administrative Detention, where the detainee is imprisoned for renewable 6-month intervals without ever being charged or informed what the evidence against him/her is. On June 27, 2003 one of ISM’s coordinators, Omar Al-Titi was released from 6 months of Administrative Detention, detained in January 2003 for his role in organizing nonviolent resistance to the occupation of his homeland and Israel’s abuses of Palestinian human rights.
Like Omar, Na’im is being held solely for his role in mobilizing the people of Budrus to nonviolently resist. Na’im, having worked for almost 10 years as a community mediator is loved and well trusted by the people of Budrus and surrounding villages, and thus was able to effectively mobilize them.
Because of his respected status, prior to his arrest, the Civil Administration of the Israeli Military in the region (Ramallah DCO) used Na’im as a point person, to transfer information from the military to Budrus villagers. He was even called on to inform his fellow villagers that their land was to be destroyed for the path of the Wall.
The Israeli military did not expect that the village of Budrus would rise up and pose a nonviolent obstacle to their plans. This is the danger that Na’im poses and why the Israeli military need to keep him locked up until the Wall around Budrus is complete.
Yael Barda will try to appeal this decision in the Ofer Military Court on Sunday, February 1.
Please help us defend the right of Palestinians to protest in defense of their land. Call and protest Na’im’s imprisonment!
Ramallah DCO: +972-2-997-0284/5
and write to:
Israeli Defense Minister
Shaul Mofaz Fax: 011-972-3-6916940, or 011-972-3-6976990
E-mail: sar@mod.gov.il
Meir Sheetrit, Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice,
29 Saleh al-Din Street
Jerusalem, 91010
Fax: +972 2 628 8618
E-Mail: sar@justice.gov.il
*See http://www.btselem.org
For more information:
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT http://www.palsolidarity.org
New report by B'Tselem and HaMoked
Following enactment of the Nationality and Entry into Israel Law on 31 July 2003, thousands of couples will be forced to live apart. Children will be separated from their parents at the age of 12 or will become lawbreakers through no fault of their own. Many families will remain in Israel with no legal status in order to live together.
Today, (27 January) B'Tselem and HaMoked released a report describing the implications for residents of East Jerusalem of the Nationality and Entry into Israel Law (Temporary Order) 5763-2003. The report demonstrates that Israel deliberately misstated the purpose of the law, claiming it was necessary for security reasons, in order to conceal the real basis for the legislation – demographic concerns. Yet, even the security claims are refuted: According to Interior Ministry's figures, 23 of the 100,000-140,000 Palestinians who came to Israel through the family unification process – only some 0.02 percent – ostensibly took some part in attacks against Israelis. As such, the law constitutes severe collective punishment, a form of discrimination with no legitimate basis.
B'Tselem and HaMoked urge the government of Israel to change its policy and treat its citizens and residents equally, and call on the Knesset to repeal the new law. The Interior Ministry must reinstate the procedures for family unification and the registration of children, and process these requests efficiently and fairly. These procedures must recognize the right of residents of East Jerusalem to marry whomever they choose and to live with their spouse and children wherever they wish.
Background: On 31 March 2002, then-Minister of Interior, Eli Yishai, froze the handling of all applications for family unification for Palestinians – the process through which an alien spouse received legal status in Israel. Some two months later, on 12 May, the government of Israel decided to maintain the freeze "until a new policy was formulated." On 31 July 2003, the Knesset enacted the Nationality and Entry into Israel Law (Temporary Order), 5763-2003. The law prohibits Israeli residents who married, or who in the future marry residents of the Occupied Territories to live with them in Israel. The law also makes it impossible to register children born in the Occupied Territories to parents who are Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem. Except for this sweeping prohibition, no "new policy" has been drafted. A number of petitions have been filed with the High Court of Justice challenging the government's decision and the new law. These petitions are currently pending.
To view summary: http://www.btselem.org/English/Publications/Summaries/Forbidden_Families_2004.asp
To download the report:
171 KB Word 97 format; http://www.btselem.org/Download/2004_Forbidden_Families_eng.doc
319 KB RTF format; http://www.btselem.org/Download/2004_Forbidden_Families_eng.rtf
To download the law in English (translated by B'Tselem)
(24KB in Word 97 format) http://www.btselem.org/English/Legal_Documents/030730_Citizenship_Law.rtf
Please also see:
Press Conference to mark the release of HDIP’s report: “Health and Segregation”, January 28, 2004;
http://www.hdip.org
Diagnosing Benny Morris: the mind of a European settler
by Gabriel Ash, http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article2379.shtml
and
IMPRISONED FOR MOBILIZING NONVIOLENT RESISTANCE
[Budrus, RAMALLAH]
Yesterday, January 29, 2004, Na’im Ahmed Hussein Morrar, from the village of Budrus was sentenced to 4 months of Administrative Detention at a military court proceeding held at the Ofer Military Base in Ramallah. Na’im was abducted from his home along with his brother, Ayed Ahmed Hussein Morrar in the early morning hours of 15 January 2004 for their role in organizing the village’s nonviolent resistance against the destruction of their land and the erection of a wall that will turn their village into a ghetto.
In a letter to former MK Yossi Beilin, the Shabak (Israeli Secret Service) wrote that Ayed and Na’im were detained for organizing the actions against the “Security Fence.” In a surprising statement, the military judge, Adrian Agafi, stated: [Translated from Hebrew] “It’s impossible that the military commander will use his power to decide on Administration Detention of a person only because of actions of this kind” (taking part in demonstrations against the Wall). Nevertheless, Na’im was sentenced to 4 months of Administrative Detention based on “secret evidence” submitted by the Shabak.
There are hundreds of Palestinians locked up in Israeli jails or military camps*, held in Administrative Detention, where the detainee is imprisoned for renewable 6-month intervals without ever being charged or informed what the evidence against him/her is. On June 27, 2003 one of ISM’s coordinators, Omar Al-Titi was released from 6 months of Administrative Detention, detained in January 2003 for his role in organizing nonviolent resistance to the occupation of his homeland and Israel’s abuses of Palestinian human rights.
Like Omar, Na’im is being held solely for his role in mobilizing the people of Budrus to nonviolently resist. Na’im, having worked for almost 10 years as a community mediator is loved and well trusted by the people of Budrus and surrounding villages, and thus was able to effectively mobilize them.
Because of his respected status, prior to his arrest, the Civil Administration of the Israeli Military in the region (Ramallah DCO) used Na’im as a point person, to transfer information from the military to Budrus villagers. He was even called on to inform his fellow villagers that their land was to be destroyed for the path of the Wall.
The Israeli military did not expect that the village of Budrus would rise up and pose a nonviolent obstacle to their plans. This is the danger that Na’im poses and why the Israeli military need to keep him locked up until the Wall around Budrus is complete.
Yael Barda will try to appeal this decision in the Ofer Military Court on Sunday, February 1.
Please help us defend the right of Palestinians to protest in defense of their land. Call and protest Na’im’s imprisonment!
Ramallah DCO: +972-2-997-0284/5
and write to:
Israeli Defense Minister
Shaul Mofaz Fax: 011-972-3-6916940, or 011-972-3-6976990
E-mail: sar@mod.gov.il
Meir Sheetrit, Minister of Justice
Ministry of Justice,
29 Saleh al-Din Street
Jerusalem, 91010
Fax: +972 2 628 8618
E-Mail: sar@justice.gov.il
*See http://www.btselem.org
For more information:
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY MOVEMENT http://www.palsolidarity.org