Israel decides not to deport Palestinian bookshop owner
Munther Fahimi, proprietor of the American Colony Hotel's English-language bookshop, was born in East Jerusalem, but lost his residency rights after moving to the U.S.
By Nir Hasson Tags: East JerusalemThe Palestinian owner of the American Colony Hotel's English-language bookshop will not be deported, after a special inter-ministerial committee granted him a two-year reprieve, after which he can apply to be a permanent resident.
Munther Fahimi, the owner of the bookshop frequented by many foreign journalists and diplomats, was born in East Jerusalem, but lost his residency rights after spending years in the United States. He petitioned the High Court of Justice after the Interior Ministry ordered him deported two and a half years ago.
 |
Munther Fahimi in his bookstore in the American Colony Hotel. |
| Photo by: Daniel Bar-On |
The court suggested he apply to the inter-ministerial committee which deals with humanitarian cases.
The committee informed his lawyer recently that Fahimi would be allowed to stay in the country for about the next two years, after which he can submit a request again to become a permanent resident.
Fahimi lived in Jerusalem until he was 21 and then moved to the United States, where he lived for about 20 years. He returned to live in Jerusalem in 1993, but at that point, he had lost his residency rights due to his long time out of the country and his acquisition of American citizenship. Like most East Jerusalem Palestinians, Fahimi had opted not to become an Israeli citizen.
He began returning to Israel on an American passport, generally on a short-term tourist visa, and would then leave and reenter on a new visa.
But a couple of years ago, the Interior Ministry informed Fahimi that it would no longer allow him to enter the country on such a basis. A number of leading authors in Israel and abroad championed his case.
Fahimi expressed delight over the committee's decision to allow him to stay, but said it also made him think about the circumstances of others in his situation, who were not as well connected.
Why Facebook Connect?
Comment on Haaretz.com articles with your Facebook login, and share your thoughts on your own wall.
- Latest
- Most Viewed
- Most Rated
- Open all
"Fahimi had opted not to become an Israeli citizen" - most of East Jerusalemites CAN'T obtain Israeli citizenship. Many wait in vain for years just to be refused later. .
I am very glad that Munther's residency permit in Jerusalem war prolonged - hopefully not only for a while of two years.
The children of many of my non-Swiss colleagues were born and educated here, but then left the country to find work elsewhere. Their return would be very difficult. I myself have worked and been here since 1964, but if I leave for more than 6 months I cannot come back and reside here. Well, I chose not to request Swiss nationality, and that's the price to pay.
well that problem is that after some time he was not allowed to visit on short term visas with his US passport.... coincidence or just stench of racism?
"Fahimi had opted not to become an Israeli citizen" Same happened to me. basically the interior ministry told me that I should go back to the US. I don’t belong here .After many years, attorneys and huge cost to me, I managed to get back the so called "temporary status residence" because the interior ministry new about my US passport long time ago and allowed me to go in an out on a temporary resident return VISA given only to Arabs. I asked about obtaining an Israeli citizenship, the interior ministry lady told me in theory it’s possible, BUT, there is a long process to get it and is not guaranteed. It includes renouncing my US citizenship. I replied why US Jews don't have to renounce their US citizenship, the lady said well that's different?? Different what, basically the Jewish state created a law with the aim of bringing more Jews and expelling Arabs. “It’s called right of return law”. Israeli Jews can live anywhere for any period of time, 20, 40, 60 years. A Palestinian holding Israeli temporary status residence who has been in Jerusalem for many generations, CAN NOT live outside Jerusalem for more than 7 years or obtain another country citizenship without losing the so called “Israeli temporary status residence”
Thank you for that. That might help people and more especially israelis to stop repeating their lies and propaganda.
Ny husband andI lived in the UK for 7 years in the 1980's. |Although we returned every hear to Bethlehem, on one visit his ID was taken and hewas told he had lost his residency . This was when Israel held total control of the West Bank. He ended up as a stateless person in the UK and was given a British Travel Docuemnet as a temporary measure. Eventually we gought the issue in court and came back to live in Bethlehem . Eleven years later I was granted West Bank residency .
do it now
It was Fahimi's choice to not be a citizen of Israel, despite having been born there (so I guess it was his parents' choice then) and despite returning to make a living there. Israeli citizenship is a path open to him, but he has chosen to make life more difficult for himself instead.
No ! he opted to become palestinian living on his own land. Israel refuses that right. That's the issue. Israel has no rights over East-Jerusalem and even less rights over the WB. That, you should keep in mind. Israel is making life difficult for the palestinians. Don't be confused.
You missed the point, Laura; Fahimi was confronted with an occupying force that claimed that East Jerusalem belongs to her. Fahimi and almost all other Jerusalemite Palestinians said no. It is clear they refused to become Israeli citizens.Won't you?
Look up your rights in your own country!! This case is not racism nor an etnic problem even if some leftist/islamic followers try to make it so. In the leftis controlled country of Norway, you looses citizienship after 7 years continously abroad. And this guy has been away for 20 years...
If you have never lived 2 years in Norway in your life, you have to show adequate ties to Norway. But your story about 7 years abroad is total fantasy.
this law is not applied equally .Jews are not affected by it.
that means acknowledging that a Jew who was born and raised outside Israel has more right to live in Israel than a Palestinian Arab that was born and raised in Israel itself.
I never had any doubt Israel would allow the man to stay, even if he did lose his status.
How could someone lose citizinship of his own country? I wonder if a jew left Jerusalem for 20 years, would he lose his citiznship?
East Jerusalem citizens , don't want israeli citizinship. They own Jordan passport.
Unless you mean Jordan? Jordan had occupied Jerusalem when the man was born. Now it is part of Israel. He was offered Israeli citizenship but refused. He then forwent his residency status. The man is a Jordanian for the most part.
East Jerusalem Palestinians who have decided not to apply for citizenship have residency status where travel abroad is done on a laisse passez document. If a Jerusalem resident lives outside of Israel for 7 years or adopts citizenship in another country or even permanent status (such as a green card) is grounds for revoking residency status.
Nothing to do with Jordan. I've got family living in East-Jerusalem, born and raised in Jerusalem before 48 and they certainly don't have any sort of israeli document nor Jordan. They have residency card.....under israeli rules. In other words if they decide to go visit us in Europe more than three months, they lose their card. Don't try your tricks Chaim. The world is not stupid and palestinians either. Thank you.
if you somehow have jewish relatives you can become a citizen immediately, if you are born here and not jewish they make problems...racism ?
sorry- but East Jerusalem is most certainly part of Israel. Admittedly in 1948 the Arabs tried to make it Judenfrei by expelling Jews from and destroying the Jewish Quarter. But they failed. Any East Jerusalem resident has the right to Israeli citizenship. If he had obtained it, he wouldnt be having any problems now. Clearly most of the people commenting on this article cant read English as it is made clear that Fahimi did not obtain Israeli citizenship. Perhaps he failed to do so because the PLO was threatening with death Arabs who did obtain Israeli citizenship. Finally, a recent Palestinian survey in East Jerusalem showed that the plurality of respondents preferred to remain under Israeli rule- even if they had to move into other parts of Israel to do so.
This man is denied the right to live in his place of birth , while a Russian , because he believes his grandmother made Matzo Balls , has the right to become an Israeli citizen. Go figure...
"Like most East Jerusalem Palestinians, Fahimi had opted not to become an Israeli citizen. "
Why should he become israeli when Jerusalem isn't even in Israel.
because most palestinians from Jerusalem are PALESTINIANS, not ISRAELIS.
The man was not Jewish no matter if he lived in Jerusalem or not. A Russian Jew is still a Jew and that gives him the right to move to Israel and be granted full citizenship. Thats how the system works and has been since independence day. Fact is the guy was not Jewish, when offered he rejected Israeli citizenship then they guy went and moved to the US for 20 years and suddenly he should be given residency. Go figure...
there is NO choice when you are under occupation.
what this cj couldn't open a 7-11 in detroit?
Your ignorance overfloweth
would prefer not to see any single Arab in the list of its residents. BUT, the reality is different. Both Jews and Arabs are an indivisible part of the Holy Land. SO, the letter-worship should prevail. SO, non of citizens of Israel loses his/her right of return.