Shalom  
 
The issue of family reunification between Israeli Arabs and residents of Judea and Samaria periodically comes back on stage. The ban against this practice, in force since the second intifada, is again under attack, being portrayed as a disproportionate infringement of human rights. Our study this month examines the foundations that justify continuation of the current policy, both from a security point of view and a demographic perspective.

Later in the newsletter, you can read about the range of activities we conducted this month, from the corridors of the Knesset to work in the field, including the story of Issam Aqel who has yet to be released.
 
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Claims are periodically voiced against the Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law (Temporary Order) that prohibits the entry into the Green Line of Palestinians in order to reunite with their Arab spouses living in Israel.  The law was legislated in 2003 and ahead of its (annual) renewal, there are those calling for its annulment due to its supposed discriminatory nature.
 
Left, the interview of the researcher, Amit Eizenman.
This paper examines the justifications for preventing family reunification and demonstrates that unlike the approach of the Supreme Court which bases its support for the law solely on grounds of security, the demographic justification – preserving a stable Jewish majority – also bears not insignificant weight. This study presents the foundation of this justification – the legitimate existence of the nation state. The discussion of this illustrates the importance of the Nation State Law as providing validation for the various means of defending the State of Israel as the nation state of the Jewish People, including, preventing family reunification.           

Blue&White Human Rights

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We are continuing our efforts to procure the release of Issam Akel, a resident of Jerusalem who has been held in Palestinian Authority detention for over two months. As mentioned in our previous coverage of this case, Akel, who holds US citizenship, was accused of selling property to Jews in the Old City. Following immense pressure from his family, Akel presented himself for interrogation at the Ramallah police station from where he is yet to return. His rights as a detainee are being violated and only representatives from the US embassy have been permitted to visit him.
Despite Israel's efforts to obtain his release, senior PA officials have chosen to adopt a belligerent policy on this issue that corresponds with the arrest of dozens of other West Bank residents on similar charges, and with the murder of an Israeli citizen – Ahmed Salame in Jaljulia.
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We also utilized International Human Rights Day (December 10) for a renewed Knesset discussion of Akel's plight. We attended the discussion in the Knesset's Interior Affairs Committee together with Walid (flalse name), one of the victims of PA torture whom we have been accompanying for over a year.
Walid impressed upon the Committee the meaning of detention in the prison cells of the Palestinian Authority. His moving testimony was recorded by several media representatives (watch here). Nicolas Nissim Touboul, our Projects Coordinator, also presented the fears expressed by Arab residents of Jerusalem of acts of revenge perpetrated by Fatah activists against any suspected of instigating normalization with Israel.

Institute News

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Launching a New Item: Get to Know our Interns!
 
And this month, the researcher investigating Religion and State issues – David Wietchner.
 
Wietchner holds a BA in Humanities from the Open University and an MA in Philosophy from the Hebrew University. He is currently studying towards a doctorate in philosophy.
David is serving as an intern in the Institute's Research Department and is conducting a study on alternative marriage in Israel with the aim of examining the sociological obstacles faced by Israeli Jews that prevent them from choosing an Orthodox ceremony outside the auspices of the Rabbinate.
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We held a fascinating conference discussing the subject of suspects rights. Among the participants: the retired Judge Elyakim Rubenstein, Adv. Zion Amir, the Deputy State Prosecutor, and the Deputy Public Defender. You can watch selected sections of the panel discussions here.
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A Busy Month at the Institute's offices:

We held a social tribute event for the recipients of our stipends, during which they presented the progress of their various activities: in research, at the checkpoints, in East Jerusalem and more.
In addition to the traditional field trips, we also hosted a young leadership group from UCLA on a trip to Israel to explore the complexity of the conflict and common interests. They heard from us about how a Zionist organization succeeds in protecting fundamental rights whereas BDS activists do exactly the opposite.

The Institute in the Media

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  • Walid's chilling testimony was covered by a range of media outlets:
    Walla, Arutz 7, Arutz20, and others.
  • Remember Comparative Analysis of Vaccination Policy in Israel that we published a year ago? It is now serving as a source for the legislative effort aimed at protecting public health.

Publications

The following English-language articles were published by members of the Institute and contain references to a wide range of issues on the public agenda:
 
  • Institute Chairman, Dr. Yoaz Hendel, claims the policy of home destruction for terrorists' families is appropriate and efficient, and should be fully implemented (Yediot Aharonot).
  • Founding Chairman of the Institute, Israel Harel, reminds us that former generals tend to wallow in detached fantasies upon entering the world of politics (Ha'aretz).
  • Nave Dromi, the head of Blue&White Human Rights, hopes IfNotNow learn not all is black and white when it comes to the conflict (The Forward).
 
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