EU DEMARCHE ON GOI ENTRY PROCEDURES TO WB/G

UNCLAS TEL AVIV 004153 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KWBG KPAL EU PBTS PHUM IS SUBJECT: EU DEMARCHE ON GOI ENTRY PROCEDURES TO WB/G ¶1. The Embassy of Finland, in its EU Presidency capacity, shared with post the aide-memoire that the EU (plus Norway and Switzerland) plans to share with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the week of October 23. BEGIN TEXT: Since spring 2006, Israeli authorities have been more strictly enforcing entry procedures towards foreign nationals whose final destination is in the Palestinian Territories. As a result, hundreds of EU member state citizens have been refused entry. The new policy has severely hindered the movement of three categories of EU citizens, in particular: -- EU nationals married to Palestinians living in the Palestinian Territories (many of these EU citizens have lived in the Palestinian Territories for several years). -- EU nationals of Palestinian origin -- EU nationals working for NGOs In several cases the EU Embassies, Consulates General and Representative Offices have also received information about rude and aggressive treatment of these EU citizens both at border crossings into Israel and the Occupied Territories and at the Israeli checkpoints in the West Bank and Jerusalem. Until last spring, these people visited and/or resided in the West Bank or Gaza mainly with 90 day entry permits. The EU is aware that this category of entry should normally be used by tourists only. The problem is, however, that for the above mentioned people the 90 day visa has de facto been the only entry permit available, as the Israeli authorities have since 2000 been willing to consider requests for family reunification and long stay visa only in exceptional case. Some EU member state Embassies and capitals have requested more information about the new rules from the Israeli authorities and have carried out demarches on this issue. So far the answer of the Israeli authorities to these inquiries has been threefold: 1). Israel has not changed its policy or rules of entry, but it has started to interpret the rules in a stricter way; 2). Israel will speak of this issue only on a case-by-case basis; and 3). Foreign nationals should apply for a permanent resident status at the offices of the Palestinian Authority. All countries have the right to determine their arrival procedures, border control and security measures, bearing in mind the demands of international law and commonly accepted practices. It is, however, a fundamental principle that other countries - and citizens of friendly countries travelling with a rightful purpose - are well informed of these rules and requirements. Also the principle of reciprocity is usually applied. This issue should be solved without delay. Rules and procedures should be public and easily available in written form to people planning to visit Israel and/or the Palestinian Territories. Detailed clarification is needed in writing of the following aspects in particular: -- The exact procedures foreign nationals need to go through in order to live, visit or work in the Palestinian Territories. -- The Israeli policy concerning the entry of the following persons into Israel and the Palestinian Territories: 1). foreign nationals holding a Palestinian ID; and 2). foreign nationals married or related to a holder of a Palestinian ID. -- Detailed contact information of the competent Israeli authorities (24 hour duty) in cases of problems. -- Possibilities and procedure to appeal in cases where a decision has already been given. -- What are the planned measures for creating a solid and transparent legal basis for the aforementioned visits and stays of EU nationals in the Palestinian territories. End text CRETZ