International Solidarity Movement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

by the Campaign for the Right to Entry,

The Campaign for Right to Entry/Re-entry will be holding a press conference on the new developments in Israel’s denial of entry policy

The Campaign for Right of Entry/Re-entry will provide the notice recently issued by the Israeli Authorities that changes Israel’s policy of denying entry to foreign nationals traveling into the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). The notice outlines new procedures regarding access to the West Bank for foreign nationals.

The Campaign regards this as a rare moment where the Israeli Authorities acknowledge in writing the severe humanitarian crisis brought on by Israeli … Continue reading

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
by the campaign for the Right of Entry

Despite assurances relayed by American and European diplomats, foreign passport holders trying to join their families in the Israeli occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), including Bethlehem, for the holidays are being denied entry and expelled by Israel.

On Friday the 15th edition of the English newspaper, Palestine Times, reported that a senior American diplomat announced that Israel had annulled a previous decision banning entry to foreign passport holders who have family residing in the Palestinian areas and was resuming its earlier practice of issuing three month renewable visas that would allow … Continue reading

by the Right to Entry Campaign, December 17th

Despite assurances given to the EU presidency by Israeli authorities, foreigners continue to be barred from passing through Israeli-controlled access points when their destination is the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). “Arbitrary denials of entry and expulsions have not stopped. No transparent rules or mechanisms are in place so far. Palestinian families, vital service providers and businesses remain vulnerable to arbitrary denials of entry and residency. This is especially hard to accept at a time of major Christian and Muslim traditional festivities when families want to be together more then ever”, said Anita … Continue reading

Campaign for Right of Entry, December 12th

The Jerusalem Legal Aid Center (JLAC), on December 11, petitioned the Israeli Civil Administration and the Ministry of Interior (MoI) to reinstate the processing of visitor permit renewal requests and to reinstate those whose permits have lapsed. JLAC attorney, Sliman Shahin, presented the petition on behalf of spouses and children of Palestinians who submitted their applications in 2006 and whose permits subsequently expired during processing, were stamped “last permit”, were not renewed, or whose holders are now forced to overstay their three-month permit.

On November 19, all 100 renewal requests returned to the Palestinian … Continue reading

Campaign for Right of Entry, December 10th

This Travel Warning is being issued to update information on the general security environment in Israel, Jerusalem, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip, and to reiterate threats to foreign nationals, especially American citizens. Although the situation in Israel is seemingly calm, the fact of the matter remains that Israel continues to aggressively violate International Humanitarian and Human Rights Laws daily. A disconcerting development is the Israeli practice of denying entry of Palestinian Christians and Muslims to the Holy Land; embodying
religious discrimination during the … Continue reading

Right to Entry, December 5th

In a new escalation of Israel’s policy of denying Palestinians and their families access to the Israeli occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), the Israeli Civil Administration at Beit El is refusing to accept at least 140 passports for visa extensions. The passport holders are mostly spouses and children of Palestinian I.D.-holders and are residing in the oPt. Many of them have been forced to become “illegal” since their visitor visas have expired while waiting to be renewed by Israel.

Twenty-seven year old Subha G is one of these cases. Her mother, brothers and her husband all have … Continue reading

Campaign for the Right of Entry/Re-Entry to the Occupied Palestinian Territory :

Hundreds Of Foreign Nationals Meet To Consider Legal Action Against Israel For Denying Them Access To West Bank And Gaza

(Al-Bireh, Occupied Palestine – November 28, 2006) – Hundreds of foreign nationals packed into the Al-Bireh Municipality Hall to listen to legal experts explain the options available to them in light of Israel’s refusal to permit foreign nationals access to the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). The audience was full of families with children, fearful that they will be forced to separate within … Continue reading