Published: 6 September 2022
Last updated: 5 March 2024
Fears West Bank is about to erupt with frequent clashes and tightening rules; In Gaza, border closures have been blamed for a child’s death.
A new Israeli rule seeking to monitor foreigner relationships with West Bank Palestinians has been dropped folllowing pressure from the international community.
Israeli guidelines released on Sunday required foreigners who fell in love with a Palestinian in the occupied West Bank, to advise the Israeli Defence Ministrry and to leave for a cooling-off period of at least six months within 27 months of marriage.
But the rules were changed after pressure on the matter from US President Joe Biden’s administration and from European governments.
The requirement was part of a tightening of rules on foreigners living in, or wanting to visit, the West Bank, most of which remain. Palestinians and Israeli NGOs have accused Israel of "taking restrictions to a new level".
Businesspeople and aid organisations say they will also be severely affected. The rules set strict limitations on the duration of visas and visa extensions, in many cases preventing people from working or volunteering in the West Bank for longer than a few months.
The new regulations come as analysts fear the West Bank is about to erupt, as Gaza did last month.
Amos Harel writes in Haaretz that the potential risk in the West Bank is greater, as was illustrated in the second intifada, and in “lone-wolf” attacks more recently.
“The main challenge, which was also demonstrated this year, is the impossibility of completely stopping potential terrorists from entering Israel from the West Bank through breaches in the separation barrier, or fence in some places. The result is shootings and stabbings within Israel proper, and the resultant heightened friction with Palestinian militants when the Israel Defense Forces responds by conducting arrest operations deep in the West Bank.
