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Last update - 00:00 05/08/2003
ADL criticizes law denying citizenship to Palestinians who marry Israelis
By Nathan Guttman, Yair Ettinger and Sharon Sadeh

A major American Jewish organization has publicly come out against the new Knesset law preventing Palestinians who marry Israeli citizens from obtaining Israeli citizenship or residency permits in Israel.
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In an unusual step, the influential Anti-Defamation League also called on the Knesset to review the law when it expires next year.

In a statement released yesterday, Abraham Foxman, national director of the ADL, 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.

EU expresses opposition

Opposition to the amended law passed by the Knesset last week has also been voiced by the European Union, which hinted that the legislation could preclude the possibility of Israel's joining the Wider Europe initiative.

EU Ambassador to Israel Giancarlo Chevellard described the legislation as "establishing a discriminatory regime to the detriment of Palestinians in the highly sensitive area of family rights."

The EU will examine whether the legislation is compatible with international law and basic standards of human rights, Chevellard said, adding that under the association agreement signed between Israel and the EU, "Israeli respect for human rights constitutes an essential element of Israel's relationship with the EU."

He said that the closer cooperation with Europe, being discussed in the framework of the Wider Europe initiative, "presupposes improved respect for human rights by Israel, as 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.

Israel's High Court of Justice will hear a petition against the legislation submitted Sunday by Adalah, the Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel
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