JERUSALEM (AP) — An Israeli military body on Sunday released a list of rules and restriction for foreigners wanting to enter Palestinian areas of the West Bank.
A number of controversial restrictions that appeared in a draft of the rules published earlier this year, including a requirement that people who form romantic relationships with local Palestinians register with Israeli authorities, have been removed.
Many of the changes in the document were not significant. The U.S. ambassador expressed concern over the rules, and critics said they merely entrenched Israel's 55 year control over the Palestinians in the territory.
Jessica Montell is the executive director of HaMoked, an Israeli human rights group that has challenged the rules in court.
The most out of place elements have been removed. The basic structure of this procedure is still in place. The rules are going to take effect.
There are rules for foreigners who come to the West Bank to work, volunteer, study or teach. The rules don't apply to people who visit Israel or the Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
Palestinians seek for an independent state in the territories captured by Israel in the 1960's.
A foreigner who forms a serious romantic relationship with a local Palestinian must notify the Israeli military within 30 days of the beginning of the relationship.
The 30 day notice was removed from the rules. The COGAT official must be informed if a foreigner starts a relationship with a Palestinian.
Limits on the number of foreign students and teachers allowed to study in the West Bank have been dropped. They were able to stay in the territory longer.
COGAT holds a lot of discretion over who is allowed in. If there is suspicion of misuse of a visa, it must approve the academic credentials of a university lecturer invited by a Palestinian institution.
Foreign spouses of Palestinians are still restricted. If you want to leave the territory, you have to deposit up to 70,000 shekels.
A longer-term visa of 27 months that can be renewed and include multiple visits in and out of the territory is one of the reliefs offered by the new rules. The previouscooling off period required spouses to leave for lengthy periods between visas.
A final decision is subject to approval by Israel.
The US ambassador to Israel expressed disappointment with the rules and said he would continue to engage with Israel ahead of the rules' formal implementation.
The potential negative impact on family unity and COGAT's role in determining whether individuals invited by Palestinian academic institutions are qualified to enter the West Bank are some of the concerns I have. During a two-year pilot program, I expect the Government of Israel to make necessary adjustments to ensure fair and equal treatment of all U.S. citizens and other foreign nationals.
Israel is trying to get a visa-waiver program with the United States because it treats Palestinians differently than other Americans.
The European Union sends hundreds of students and professors on academic exchanges to the West Bank each year.
The Palestinian Authority had no response. Montell said her group would keep fighting.
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