(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

BY ADNAN S. KHAN

ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN

Israel’s Supreme Court upheld a law that prevents Palestinian spouses from getting Israeli citizenship. USA Today quotes one of the supporting judges as saying…
 

“Human rights do not prescribe national suicide...”


In 2003, in light of the second Palestinian intifada - or uprising -- the Israeli Parliament added an amendment to its citizenship law that has been used to exclude Palestinians. The measure, which was supposed to be temporary, has been extended numerous times.


Ynet News explains citizenship is only granted when West Bank applicants have made a strong enough case to identify with the State of Israel and have contributed in some way to its security. The news site quotes an Israel-Arab citizen.

“My husband left [the West Bank city of] Nablus seven years ago, and since then we’ve been living here, but he has not been granted citizenship. Essentially he lives here without any rights … I wake up each morning fearing something will happen to him at work...”


Civil rights groups in Israel have been fighting the amendment, but this week Israel’s Supreme Court barely upheld the measure in a 6 to 5 vote. The Los Angeles Times reports - supporters of the law cited security reasons for the measure.


“…when first passed, the move was aimed at blocking what the Palestinians call the right of return. Later, supporters of the law cited security reasons, saying Palestinians who became Israeli citizens through marriage had become involved in suicide bombings by abusing the freedom of movement that the law afforded.”


But civil rights organizations disagree. The Guardian quotes The Association of Civil Rights in Israel, calling the law racist and saying it will…


“…harm the very texture of the lives of families whose only sin is the Palestinian blood that runs in their veins.”



The Jerusalem Post reports at least 10,000 Israeli-Arabs married to Palestinians have had their citizenship request frozen since 2003. Also…


“An additional 8,000 requests have been submitted in addition to the Israeli-Arab requests, ... The requests, in total, cover some 70,000 Palestinian spouses and children waiting to be united with their families in Israel.”


Haaretz reports Arabs make up 20 percent of Israel’s population of 7 million.