Following a meeting held between Israel’s Defense Minister Benny Gantz and PA President Mahmoud Abbas, an agreement was reached to issue 5,000 Palestinian IDs (granting status of permanent resident in the oPt) to those spouses of Palestinians holding foreign passports. In addition, Israel agreed that Palestinians living in the West Bank whose registered addresses were in Gaza would be allowed to officially change their addresses to the West Bank, thereby removing the threat of arbitrary deportation to Gaza.
The Palestinian Authority simultaneously announced that Palestinians and their spouses who hold foreign passports and are currently residing in the oPt may contact the Palestinian Authority immediately with their applications for family unification/ IDs. It appears that the intent is to later expand the list of ID holders to those spouses who are currently abroad.
The Law Offices of Bechor & Ben-Hillel represents many couples seeking family unification in the oPt. Our firm has challenged Israel’s long-standing policy of denying family unification to Palestinian families except for in extreme humanitarian circumstances and is currently litigating the issue in Israel’s High Court of Justice.
Israel’s gesture to approve 5,000 family unification applications is a small step in the right direction. Every family unification application approved means that one more family that has lived in constant fear of deportation and separation can now begin a life together of security and quiet, including finally being able to travel in and out of the oPt, as much as is possible. Nevertheless, the number of applications that will be approved is quite small. Worse yet, the underlying problem remains: Israel does not recognize the basic right of Palestinians to family life but instead sees Palestinian lives as bargaining chips in political barter.
The Law Offices of Bechor & Ben-Hillel will await Israel’s official response to the petitions we filed in the High Court of Justice, which is supposed to address, among other matters, the issue of Palestinian family unification.
To learn more about the recent political gesture, see:
The Palestinian Authority’s official announcement regarding the political gesture translated to English:
[Law Offices of Bechor & Ben-Hillel – Unofficial Translation]
State of Palestine
General Authority for Civil Affairs
Minister’s Office
2021/08/30
In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful
Press Release
Issued by Minister Hussein Sheikh
About the Latest Developments in the Matter of Family Unification and Change of address
For more than 12 years, and since family unification was suspended due to Israeli political stalemate, the need has become acute to end the suffering of thousands of Palestinian families who have the right in the present regard, whether they are residing in the homeland or in the diaspora. We have followed this issue on a daily basis and around the clock, and we have made it a first priority in our dealings with the Israeli government.
In accordance with the understandings we have reached with the Israeli government, we announce today the resumption of work on family reunification. In the first stage, the status of foreign residents who entered the homeland with a visitor permit or visa will be legalized so that they can obtain Palestinian residency and a Palestinian passport. We will continue to work and follow up in order to begin with the applications of residents living in the diaspora.
Accordingly,
I declare that the Directorates of the General Authority on Civilian Affairs in the southern and northern districts will be open from today forward to receive applications from foreign residents in the above category.
Accordingly, I urge residents to quickly complete filing applications or updating information as required.
I also ask that residents holding Palestinian IDs who reside in the northern districts but have their office residence listed as the Gaza Strip also contact our offices and register so that their addresses can be changed.
God is the Guardian of Success