For immediate release April 24th 2013: The Mossawa Center condemned the decision of the Israeli Government to extend the validity of the Citizenship and Entry into Israel for one more year.
On Monday 22th of April Mossawa legal advocate Sameh Iraqi met with a number of Knesset Members before and after the vote on the extension of the Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law, to clarify the Mossawa Center's position on this law stating that "This law, in a vague security pretext, affects tens of thousands of Palestinian families."
The Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law is an Israeli law that was initially passed as a temporary provision on 31th July 2003, restricting the eligibility of Palestinian spouses of Israeli citizens to gain citizenship, residency permits or even entry permits to visit their spouses in Israel. Despite being a temporary order, the law has been renewed annually.
Taiseer Khatib one of the affected citizens from the law stated, "We are not surprised by this racist governmental decision to extend the law. It is clear to us that advocating with the Knesset will not bring any solutions on the ground. Tthe only way to bring a solution is through exposing Israel internationally, and advocating about racism in Israel through international human rights institutions and other international bodies, in order to bring about a change that cannot be brought locally".
Sameh Iraqi, Mossawa's legal advocate stated, that "The extension of this law for the 13th time has made this law a permanent law that encourages anti-democratic policies. It is also noteworthy that this law is one of a kind and there is no international comparison."He continued "Our stance against this law will continue, we at the Mossawa Center will keep coordinating with partners, movements, political parties and Knesset Members until the revocation of this law"
The Mossawa Center calls on the international community to condemn the renewal of the Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law and urge Israel for immediate revocation of this law.
