Bbabo NET

News

Israel passed a new law restricting the rights of the Palestinians

Israel's parliament amended a 2003 law barring Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank from obtaining Israeli citizenship and even temporary residency through marriage to a citizen of that country, Arab News reported. The law was not passed immediately due to opposition from left-wing parties, as well as deputies of Arab origin.

The law is expected to hit primarily Arab Israelis, who have close family ties to the people of Gaza and the West Bank, so intercommunal marriages are common. Note that Arabs make up 20 percent of Israel's population.

The law was considered at the initiative of Interior Minister Ayelet Shahed, who called its adoption a victory for the "Jewish democratic state." In response to her remark, Arab Knesset member Ayman Odeh called the new law a victory for the "apartheid state."

Israel passed a new law restricting the rights of the Palestinians