Emigre Palestinians fear new Israeli restrictions

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
3 Sep 2022 15:48

The Palestinian diaspora has been swarming to the occupied West Bank, afraid that new Israeli laws set to take effect next week will make future visits difficult, if not impossible.

Emigre Palestinians hurry back to visit fearful of new Israeli rules.

Palestinians from the millions-strong diaspora have been rushing to the occupied West Bank all summer, worried that new Israeli laws set to take effect next week will make future visits difficult, if not impossible.

Foreign passport holders, including Palestinians residing abroad, will no longer be able to receive visas on arrival under the regulations, which were first issued in February, and would instead have to apply for them at least 45 days in advance.

The regulations will severely restrict foreigners' capacity to study, volunteer, or work in the occupied West Bank, dealing a serious blow to student exchange programs run by the European Union and others.

Foreigners will no longer be able to enter occupied Palestine through the main occupation airport near "Tel Aviv," but only through the land crossing between Jordan and the occupied West Bank, which "Israel" occupied in 1967.

After being delayed twice by legal challenges, the new rulebook drafted by COGAT, the Israeli defense ministry organization responsible for Palestinian civil affairs, is set to go into effect on Monday.

Palestinian lawyer Rasem Kamal in the city of Ramallah said he has been overwhelmed with clients from the diaspora seeking to register power of attorney amid significant uncertainty about managing their affairs.

"Many people are rushing to come to the West Bank and finish their business here or give the power of attorney because they understand... there may be restrictions on their ability to visit," he said.

The inhuman new rules

The new limits will deprive "thousands of Palestinian families of the right to live together without interruption and to live a normal family life," according to HaMoked, the Israeli rights organization that led the Supreme Court's challenge against the measures.

One of the 19 plaintiffs in the court challenge, Canadian doctor Benjamin Thomson, said the Israeli measure will disturb the work of health professionals.

"These draconian measures will severely impact their work, and impair the lives of the Palestinian people," said Thomson, director of the Keys of Health project aimed at rebuilding healthcare in the Palestinian territories.

Foreign spouses visiting the West Bank will be limited to three or six-month licenses, and foreign volunteers would also face restrictions.

Goal to 'restrict' population growth

The new guidelines would also establish restrictions for academic exchange programs, with just 150 foreign professors and 100 students permitted to attend Palestinian universities each year.

The planned quotas attracted a harsh reprimand from the European Union, whose Erasmus+ exchange program will suffer the most.

In 2020, 366 European students and academics attended courses in the occupied West Bank, far exceeding the overall allotment for the next two years.

"While Israel greatly benefits from Erasmus+, the (European) Commission considers that it should facilitate and not hinder the access of students to Palestinian universities", Education Commissioner Mariya Gabriel said in July.