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News :: Israel / Palestine |
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On Israel's New Immigration Law |
Current rating: 0 |
by haaretz via gehrig
(No verified email address) |
04 Aug 2003
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An Israeli law so discriminatory that even the ADL has come out against it. |
ADL, EU oppose new law barring Palestinian citizenship
By Nathan Guttman and Yair Ettinger, Haaretz Correspondents
In an unusual move, the Anti-Defamation League
publicly but guardedly came out Monday against the
new Knesset law preventing Palestinians who marry
Israeli citizens from obtaining residency permits
in Israel, and called on the Knesset to review the
law when it expires next year.
The European Union also voiced
opposition to the law, which
was passed by the Knesset last
week, and hinted that the
"discrimination" inherent in
the legislation could preclude
the possibility of Israel's
joining the Wider Europe
initiative.
In a statement released Monday, ADL national
director Abraham Foxman said: "We wish such a
law was not necessary, but understand that
Israel has vital security concerns." He added:
"We hope the Knesset will review this law when
it expires in a year and explore other methods
to ensure Israel's security needs."
Despite its careful wording and the
consideration of Israel's security needs, the
ADL's statement is considered something of an
anomaly since the American Jewish organizations
normally go to great lengths to stand behind
Israel's official positions. The ADL monitors
and tries to prevent outbreaks of anti-Semitism
as well as racism, xenophobia and violations of
human rights worldwide.
The statement comes on the heels of a State
Department announcement that it will examine
whether the new legislation is consistent with
the administration's position on preventing
discrimination.
Meanwhile, EU Ambassador to Israel Giancarlo
Chevellard described the legislation as
"discrimination against the Palestinians in the
very sensitive area of family rights."
The EU will examine whether the legislation is
in keeping with the association agreement
signed between Israel and the EU, he added.
Chevellard said that "the observation of human
rights is an integral part of Israel's ties
with the EU." He said that closer cooperation
with Europe, such as joining in the Wider
Europe initiative, was based on the assumption
that such rights are being ensured, just as
they have to be ensured by any other EU
partner.
Over the past few days, the legislation has come
under heavy criticism in the European media and
has been condemned by international human
rights organizations.
Adalah, the watchdog group for Arab rights in
Israel, asked the Supreme Court on Sunday to
strike down the law. |
