Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: At least two soldiers killed by anti-tank missile fired at Israeli army forces in the Gaza Strip
Local Syrian sources: Mortar shells fell on more than nine villages in the Sweida countryside
Local Syrian sources: Dozens of dead and wounded have arrived at Sweida hospitals as a result of ongoing clashes at several locations in the western Sweida countryside
Local sources: Civilians, including children and women, were injured in the al-Maqous neighborhood of Sweida, in Syria, as a result of ongoing clashes
Israeli media outlet: Security incident reported in the Gaza Strip
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson: No new date or venue has been set for the meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff, and no negotiations will take place until the outcome is guaranteed
Palestinian platforms: Settlers storm Al-Aqsa Mosque complex under the protection of the occupation police
Palestinian platforms: The IOF detonated a booby-trapped robot east of the al-Zaytoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Syrian Defense: We call on all parties in Sweida to cooperate with security forces and exercise restraint
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The Lebanese Army is continuing its investigations and will later announce any information that does not affect the confidentiality of the investigation

Emigre Palestinians fear new Israeli restrictions

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 3 Sep 2022 16:48
3 Min Read

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.

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

Read next: "Israel" clamps down on Christians, ignores 350 permits to Beit Lehm

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.

Related News

Abu Obeida: Commander Deif wrote Palestine’s final liberation chapter

Israeli 'humanitarian city' plan jeopardizes Gaza ceasefire deal talks

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.

Read next: 'No time to think of Palestinians as people': Ex-IOF soldier

"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.

Read next: Palestinians forced off buses to make way for Israeli settlers

  • Palestine
  • Israel
  • West Bank

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
The Freedom Flotilla ship Handala as it departs for Gaza, where it aims to break the maritime blockade at a port in Syracuse, Sicily in southern Italy on July 13, 2025. (AFP)
Palestine

Freedom Flotilla's Handala departs Sicily in bid to break Gaza siege

The container ship CMA CGM Laperouse, left, docks at the Georgia Ports Authority's Port of Savannah, Sept. 29, 2021, in Savannah, Ga (AP)
Politics

US shipbuilding woes deepen as tariffs, outdated policies backfire

Gaza war raises ethical questions for ex-Obama, Biden officials
Politics

Mercenary firm tied to Gaza war crimes hires Obama-Biden PR operatives

'Israel' targets children in Gaza collecting water
Palestine

'Israel' strikes Gaza kids fetching water, blames it on 'malfunction'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS