Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., January 30, 2008 Shvat 23, 5768 | | Israel Time: 07:11 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 09:41 24/06/2007 Interior Min. increasingly revoking E. J'lem Arabs' residency permits By Shahar Ilan , Haaretz Correspondent The number of East Jerusalem residents whose permanent residency status has been revoked has surged by more than six times in one year, according to Interior Ministry data made available to the human rights group B'Tselem. The ministry attributes this in part to "growing efficiency." In 2005 the number of residencies revoked stood at 222, while by 2006 the number rose to 1,363. This is the highest number of revoked permanent residency permits since the policy was introduced in 1995. Permanent status grants East Jerusalem residents most of the privileges enjoyed by Israeli citizens. The status can be revoked for taking up residence in the Palestinian Authority or abroad. Advertisement The policy of mass revocations has been in place for more than a decade. It began in 1995, toward the end of Eli Suissa's tenure as director of the Jerusalem District at the Interior Ministry. It heightened when he was appointed interior minister in 1996, when his party, Shas, joined the coalition government of Benjamin Netanyahu. Suissa was instrumental in making it harder for East Jerusalem residents to acquire construction permits, causing a serious housing shortage among Arabs in the city. This forced many Jerusalem Arabs to seek housing elsewhere, losing their permanent residency status. The peak years of this policy were 1996 (739 permits revoked), 1997 (1,067 permits) and 1998 (788 permits). When Natan Sharansky was interior minister from 1999 to 2000, the number of revoked residence permits dropped, and has leveled at 200 to 300 per year. The Interior Ministry has based its policy of revoking permanent status on a Supreme Court ruling in 1988 by its former president, Justice Aharon Barak. In the case of Palestinian-American psychologist Mubarak Awad, Barak set the precedent on the argument that permanent status - unlike naturalization - "is an expression of the reality of a permanent stay." Barak also noted that when that reality of permanent residence is no longer applicable, the status "cancels itself." In response to a request by B'Tselem, Shalom Benamo, who is in charge of releasing information to the public at the Interior Ministry, said that "most of the [cases] between 2005 and 2006 involved people who immigrated abroad and acquired foreign citizenship." The rest of the cases are the result of individuals living outside Jerusalem for seven years, Benamo said. He also noted that in 2000, in a document that came to be known as "The Sharansky Declaration," any person who has maintained "links" to the city is recognized as retaining permanent status. A single visit to Israel every three years is considered sufficient to maintain links to the city, and therefore permanent residency status. In a B'Tselem question regarding a possible change in the policy and interpretation of the Sharansky Declaration, Benamo said that "there is no fundamental change in the Interior Ministry's policy on this issue. The rise in the number of revocations stems from growing efficiency at the office, and better supervision of borders." B'Tselem demands that the policy of revoking residency status cease, arguing that it breaches international law Bookmark to del.icio.us   Pride of Shas Shas MK: Gays are causing Israeli society to self-destruct. In bad taste Local Jewish group protests 'Holocaust float' at Rio Carnival.   1.   They Want Their Cake- AND Our Cake 07:42  |  Yishai Kohen 24/06/07   2.   Ironic 08:12  |  C`est moi 24/06/07   3.   East Jerusalem 09:25  |  Steve 24/06/07   4.   Steve - A Few Questions 10:09  |  Mark of Lewiston 24/06/07   5.   To Yishai 10:41  |  John 24/06/07   6.   The Racist State 10:49  |  Jerusalemite 24/06/07   7.   East Jerusalem Response to #4 10:53  |  Steve 24/06/07   8.   REALLY AND ABOUT TIME TOO !! 10:56  |  paul harris 24/06/07   9.   They Hold Jordanian Passports, Right? 11:49  |  Terry 24/06/07   10.   To all Anti-Palestinian 12:35  |  Luli 24/06/07   11.   Something missing 12:41  |  Dani Reiss 24/06/07   12.   interesting that SHARANSKY defended palestinian rights 13:15  |  Michelle 24/06/07   13.   Good news and good riddance 13:21  |  trumpeldor 24/06/07   14.   to # 10 luli 13:22  |  Jerusalemite 24/06/07   15.   Israel has been doing whatever any state would under the 13:30  |  Petra 24/06/07   16.   Why censor my post... 13:53  |  Clickfool 24/06/07   17.   The Capital of Palestine 21:36  |  ta 24/06/07   18.   My ID revoced because I left for 2 months 21:36  |  muhannad 24/06/07   19.   They Want Their Cake- AND Our Cake 07:06  |  Ziyad 25/06/07   20.   Let the world apologize for it s antisemitism 07:10  |  Ziyad 25/06/07   21.   Mark of Lewiston 07:13  |  Ziyad 25/06/07   22.   21 Ziyad - on Skokie 17:05  |  Mark of Lewiston 25/06/07   23.   YOUR city? No 1 19:01  |  Palestinan Brit 25/06/07   24.   jerusalem residents 04:48  |  Gene Warech 05/12/07   25.   The question is who owns what! 12:41  |  maurice grima 05/12/07   26.   If this is what it takes to get rid of them then well and good 06:50  |  Y.S.L. 30/01/08   27.   Terrible injustice 06:56  |  Clickfool 30/01/08

Today Online Obama: Opponents trying to weaken my support among Jews Responses: 328 In final State of the Union, Bush calls for democratic Palestine Responses: 142 Abbas: Gaza border row shows Hamas disregard for Palestinian needs Responses: 139 Shas MK: Gays are causing Israeli society to self-destruct Responses: 68 Amir Oren: Hamas has made a mockery of Olmert, Barak Responses: 50 Rosner's Domain Obama, the first Jewish president (What To Read) Lieberman: Why McCain's the man for Israel-lovers New Guest: Diaspora Jews need to be heard on Jerusalem. Two days before the Florida primary, Rudy seeks solace in football McCain using support for Israel to court Jews - and Christians More Headlines 02:35 Winograd panel shocked by IDF performance in war 04:03 PM's camp pressures Labor to stay in coalition post-Winograd 04:36 Fallen soldier's father takes blame for son's Lebanon death 06:46 Press conference after Winograd report release aims to deflect media spin 06:56 Reservists to camp outside Barak's home to 'help him decide' to resign 02:41 Hezbollah official threatens to kidnap additional IDF soldiers 01:45 Olmert mulls putting up fence on border with Egypt 22:54 European Jewish leader: World Jews should have say in Israeli politics 23:44 Libya rescinds bid for UN condemnation of Israeli blockade on Gaza 01:08 UN envoy: Women in Gaza feel coerced to cover their heads 20:18 Shas MK: Gays are causing Israeli society to self-destruct 23:54 Peres urges world youth to fight anti-Semitism using Facebook 06:32 Snow, rain and winds stop school across the country, delay flights Previous Editions Select Day 29 jan 28 jan 27 jan 25 jan 24 jan 23 jan 22 jan 21 jan 20 jan 18 jan 17 jan 16 jan

Special Offers Advertisement Dead Sea Salt Beauty and skin care from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 10% off! FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer Inbal Jerusalem Hotel Unbeatable rates at the Finest hotel in Jerusalem Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations SUPER-TUESDAY U.S. PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY U.S. citizen in Israel vote Democrats-Abroad Global Primary online, in-person. Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved