A 2003 law prohibiting PA (Palestinian Authority) residents from marrying Israelis and living in Israel is currently being challenged in the High Court of Justice. The last of four hearings in the case took place on Sunday, with Abdullah, the Arab civil rights organization, ACRI (Association for Civil Rights in Israel) and former Meretz MK Zahava Gal-On challenging the legality of the law, labeling it “racist”.

In their petition, they maintain the law prevents “family reunification”. The law was prompted after it was learned a growing number of terrorists married Israeli citizens to permit them to reside in the pre-1967 Green Line borders, facilitating their anti-Israel agenda.

The law applies to residents of Syria, Iraq, Iran and Lebanon too, all nations that do not maintain diplomatic relations with Israel, hostile nations as far as the Government of Israel is concerned. The hearing was heard by a seven-justice panel headed by court President Justice Dorit Beinish.

Petitioners insist the law violates basic rights of Arabs, pointing out the law is indeed racist by challenging the ethnicity and racial integrity of those targeted.

The law was passed in 2003 as a temporary security measure and it has since been extended. Opponents insist the law discriminates against Israeli Arabs. Government estimates the number of PA residents added to population registries as a result of the marriages may have exceeded 100,000. ACRI tried to knock out the law in 2003, but the court overruled the petition.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)