Thursday, March 12, 2009

The 1952 Law of Entry

The 1952 Law of Entry


Anti-Arab racism is Israel is not only expressed in the attitudes of Israeli Jews towards Arabs, but it is embedded in the Israeli legal system.

The 1952 Law of Entry, for example, states that whatever "does not hold an immigration visa or immigration certificate" can face immediate deportation by the interior minister or can be denied visa at any time.

But who is able to qualify for such a visa? The Law of Return restricts immigration visas solely to Jews. Palestinian refugees are therefore legally barred from re-entering Israel. The interior minister also has the ability to withdraw residence from non-Jews regardless of how long they have been living in Israel.