Published on: 2022-10-20 – 06:49
In a particularly tense context, new entry and residence restrictions for foreigners will come into force in the occupied West Bank on Thursday. These Israeli measures, which have been criticized by human rights organizations, also worry the American government.
It is a particularly controversial new administrative procedure that will come into effect on Thursday, October 20 for foreign nationals wishing to reside, work, study or volunteer in the occupied West Bank. Put simply, things get more complicated for these visa applicants.
From now on, foreigners must necessarily go through neighboring Jordan and cannot land at Tel Aviv airport to get to the West Bank, Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since 1967 and already subject to numerous traffic restrictions. .
Also, it is no longer possible to obtain a visa on arrival. The request must be made at least 45 days in advance. The Israeli authorities also reserve the right to demand bail of up to 20,000 euros. These measures do not apply to people wishing to travel to West Bank settlements.
Making life impossible for families.
The new procedure also imposes restrictions on the duration and renewal of residence permits for foreigners married to a Palestinian man or man.
Jessica Montell, director of HaMoked, an Israeli human rights organization, warned on Wednesday that the process “would make it impossible for thousands of families in the West Bank to live together,” reports the Jerusalem Post. In her opinion, these restrictions will also “create additional difficulties for Palestinian universities and institutions that depend on foreign volunteers”.
In Palestine, these restrictions are widely viewed as an attack on the diaspora and a way for Israel to increase surveillance of the population. “With this new law, the Israeli authorities want to map the social circles and assets of Palestinians living abroad,” Palestinian digital rights activist Marwa Fatafta told Al-Jazeera ahead of the text.
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The West Bank, which is very dependent on international aid, could suffer economically from this new procedure, which also affects investors and entrepreneurs. Palestinians are already subject to numerous movement restrictions that weigh on development in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip. According to the United Nations, these Israeli-imposed restrictions on the movement of goods and people have cost the Palestinian economy $58 billion over 20 years.
Violence erupts in the West Bank
This trial, which has been challenged before the Israeli Supreme Court and has already been postponed twice, has also been criticized by the European Union and the United States. “We remain concerned about the potentially negative impact of these procedures on civil society, tourism, healthcare and education,” US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel said on Tuesday.
In early September, to respond to American concerns, Cogat, the Israeli military administration that manages security and civil affairs in the West Bank, agreed to amend an even more restrictive first version.
The latter, in particular, required foreign nationals to declare to the Israeli authorities whether they had romantic ties with Palestinians. In addition to this particularly drastic measure, there was a series of draconian quotas for students and teachers.
Despite the removal of these bullet points under international pressure, the core of the text has not changed and remains immensely unpopular with the Palestinians.
Especially as these new rules come into effect in an already explosive context in the West Bank. Violence has increased in the north in recent months, particularly in the areas of Nablus and Jenin, strongholds of armed groups where the Israeli army has stepped up operations following anti-Israeli attacks.
According to the United Nations, Israeli attacks have left more than 100 dead on the Palestinian side, the highest death toll in the West Bank in almost seven years.