ZGram - 8/17/2003 - "UN blasts Israeli marriage law"

[zgrams at zgrams.zundelsite.org]

ZGram - Where Truth is Destiny

August 17, 2003

Good Morning from the Zundelsite:

Some of you may not have seen this one yet - it is a
nice one to keep for future reference.

[START]

UN blasts Israeli marriage law

Supporters of the bill fear the loss of Israel's
Jewish character.

  A United Nations panel has urged Israel to repeal a
new law forcing Palestinians who marry Israelis to
live separate lives.

The Geneva-based Committee on the Elimination of
Racial Discrimination unanimously approved a
resolution saying the Israeli law violated an
international human rights treaty.

However the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations
in Geneva, accused the panel of bias.

On 31 July the Israeli parliament approved a law
preventing Palestinians married to Israelis from
gaining Israeli citizenship or residency.

[Israel] should reconsider its policy with a view to
facilitating family unification on a
non-discriminatory basis

Arabs make up about 20% of Israel's population of 6
million. About 3 million Palestinians live in the West
Bank and Gaza Strip.

Many families were divided by the Middle East
conflict, and over the years marriage between the two
groups has been common.

Until recently, the Israeli interior minister had the
final say on whether Palestinians who married Israelis
could receive citizenship and make a home in the
country.

Since 1993, more than 100,000 Palestinians have
obtained Israeli permits in this way and some Israelis
see this as a security threat.

The UN committee - which monitors the 1966
International Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Racial Discrimination - condemned new law.

Israel views the Committee's initiative as being
highly politicised

The Israeli ambassador to the UN was advised that
"The State party (Israel) should revoke this ban and
reconsider its policy with a view to facilitating
family unification on a non-discriminatory basis."

However the Israeli Ambassador to the UN in Geneva,
Yaakov Levy, said the resolution showed "a biased
approach which singles out Israel".

He added that the law was still under review by
Israel's Supreme Court, after facing challenges by
opponents.

"The domestic internal proceedings have not yet been
exhausted," he said.


[END]

(SOURCE:  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3152651.stm )