The Knesset is expected Wednesday to pass an extension of the law that bars citizens of enemy nations from gaining Israeli citizenship through marriage, but allows certain PA residents to enter.
The Citizenship Law, also known as the Family Reunification Law, was to expire on April 16. It will now be extended to July 2008.
Citizens of enemy nations, including Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Iran are barred from attaining Israeli citizenship through marriage under the law, which includes most citizens of Palestinian Authority territories as well.
One amendment that was hotly debated in the Knesset Internal Affairs and Environment Committee this year was whether to allow exceptions for immediate relations of Israeli citizens who are residents of the Palestinian Authority-controlled areas.
The current law denies entry to PA men aged 18-35 and PA women aged 18-25. It also bars those whose immediate relation is suspected of terrorist involvement.
Arguments over whether to include people whose brother-in-law or nephew are suspected of terrorist activity eventually ended with a vote against the change.
According to the head of the Counter-terrorism Division in the General Security Service (Shin Bet), 40 percent of naturalized Arab Israeli citizens were involved in suicide bombing attacks last year. He also informed the Knesset committee that PA terrorist organizations instruct their members to marry Israeli citizens in order to enter the country under the Family Reunification Law.
Humanitarian exceptions, including marriages between Israeli citizens and residents of enemy entities will continue under the extended law, but will have to pass muster in a special committee which will include two public representatives as well as members from the General Security Service (Shin Bet), IDF and Population Registrar.
The Citizenship Law, also known as the Family Reunification Law, was to expire on April 16. It will now be extended to July 2008.
Citizens of enemy nations, including Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Iran are barred from attaining Israeli citizenship through marriage under the law, which includes most citizens of Palestinian Authority territories as well.
One amendment that was hotly debated in the Knesset Internal Affairs and Environment Committee this year was whether to allow exceptions for immediate relations of Israeli citizens who are residents of the Palestinian Authority-controlled areas.
The current law denies entry to PA men aged 18-35 and PA women aged 18-25. It also bars those whose immediate relation is suspected of terrorist involvement.
Arguments over whether to include people whose brother-in-law or nephew are suspected of terrorist activity eventually ended with a vote against the change.
According to the head of the Counter-terrorism Division in the General Security Service (Shin Bet), 40 percent of naturalized Arab Israeli citizens were involved in suicide bombing attacks last year. He also informed the Knesset committee that PA terrorist organizations instruct their members to marry Israeli citizens in order to enter the country under the Family Reunification Law.
Humanitarian exceptions, including marriages between Israeli citizens and residents of enemy entities will continue under the extended law, but will have to pass muster in a special committee which will include two public representatives as well as members from the General Security Service (Shin Bet), IDF and Population Registrar.