Hope for fractured Palestinian families as Israel law ends

With the failure of the law’s renewal, more Palestinians will begin the arduous process to obtain residency rights.

Ramallah, Occupied West Bank – Thousands of Palestinians living in limbo and fear have been given a glimmer of hope in regard to living legally with their families after the Israeli government recently failed to renew its controversial Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law. The law prevents Palestinian spouses from living together legally in occupied East Jerusalem, or Israel proper, if one partner is from the West Bank and the other Jerusalem or Israel – unless they can secure special permits. It also prevents Palestinians who are married to Arab Israelis, or Palestinians with Israeli citizenship, from being naturalised unlike the spouses of Jewish citizens who are allowed to apply for Israeli citizenship. Jews from abroad are automatically entitled to apply for Israeli citizenship irrespective of their marital status.