PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
ISRAEL'S CITIZENSHIP LAW (6 June 2004)

That this House expresses grave concerns that the Israeli Government is due to renew the Citizenship and Family Unification Law in July; notes that the law clearly discriminates against Israeli citizens of Palestinian origin and their spouses by denying Israeli citizenship or residency status to spouses of Israeli citizens who are residents of the West Bank or Gaza; notes, however, that the Bill does not affect marriages between Israeli citizens and other foreign spouses or Jewish settlers in the Occupied Territories; notes that according to Israeli Government statistics, over 21,000 couples are currently affected by this legislation, both newly-weds, and couples married for years whose resident permit requests are still pending; notes that spouses are subject to deportation for failing to comply with the law; thereby notes that this law permits discrimination on grounds of ethnicity and national origin and clearly violates international human rights law, treaties and domestic laws which Israel has ratified to uphold; and calls on the British Government to raise the issue with Israel and express concerns that such discriminatory laws will only exacerbate existing tensions and will be detrimental to peace efforts.

Sponsored by:
Dr Brian Iddon (Labour)