Despite fearing the ever-present social stigma attached to their choices, many non-Israeli Arab residents of Eastern Jerusalem are applying to become fully recognized citizens of Israel. This change of identity in documentation will theoretically eliminate the insecurity that comes with their current status of “Permanent Resident,” which is neither permanent nor secure.
From December 1947 to July 1948, the fighting in British Mandate Palestine saw the Israeli and Jordanian armies struggling for control of Jerusalem. With the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, the Jordanian and Israeli leaders secretly negotiated and decided to divide the city leaving the eastern sector under Jordanian rule for the next 19 years. After winning the 1967 Six-Day War against her hostile neighbors, Israel took back the eastern part of Jerusalem integrating it into the capital bringing it under the law, jurisdiction and full administration of the State of Israel.
At that time, non-Jewish Jerusalemites were granted permanent residency but unlike in 1948 with the creation of the State of Israel where non-Jewish inhabitants were given the option to apply for Israeli citizenship, in 1967 they did not automatically receive it. Israel said that the majority would have refused this gesture as it would be seen as acceptance of the State of Israel’s existence.
As a result, since then, these residents are treated like foreigners with strict impositions for conduct and movement. Any deviation from the rules can result in residency status being revoked and benefits lost.
These benefits include Israeli health insurance and social welfare from institutions that are within the Jerusalem municipality. In addition to working, those with this status can buy property in Israel and must pay taxes. Children born to parents with Jerusalem residency status automatically acquire permanent residency and have the right to apply for Israeli citizenship. Unlike those with full citizenship, for non-Jewish citizens the army is optional.
As it now stands, the vast majority of non-Jewish Jerusalemites have permanent resident documents, allowing them freedom to work and move about, but they are not citizens of any country – unless they have a passport from another country. If they want to travel overseas, they are issued temporary documents from either Israel or Jordan. If they move abroad for any length of time, they are liable to lose their residency status and are treated as tourists if they visit.
Those with resident status are entitled to vote in local elections but not in Israeli parliamentary elections. Most do not vote because of cultural, religious or political allegiances and social stigmas.
A survey carried out six years ago showed that nearly half of Jerusalemites with residency status would prefer to become citizens of Israel rather than a future Palestinian state. Proving this, in the past 10 to 15 years permanent residents have been quietly but steadily applying for and receiving Israeli citizenship. All the while, they are integrating into life in west Jerusalem, going to Israeli malls and restaurants and sending their children to Israeli schools and universities.
For those applying for Israeli citizenship and passports, their situation is precarious. Acceptance of Israel as a state could label them as traitors to the Palestinian cause. On the other hand, while prospects for a Palestinian state remain elusive and these residents feel neglected by the Palestinian Authority, Israeli citizenship seems to be the best option for normalcy.
While applications are flowing in, the Ministry of Interior says it is backlogged and experiencing technical difficulties. Some accuse Israel of stalling or dragging its feet so as to withhold citizenship. Applicants can wait for months to be granted an initial appointment with the Ministry of Interior and it can take up to three years for a decision. Representatives from different sides of the situation have made claims and counterclaims.
Lawyers representing Palestinians dismiss claims of bureaucratic difficulties and say Israel wants to deter Arabs from applying. They claim that it is in Israel’s demographic interest to reduce the number of Arabs inside its borders, especially Arabs with voting rights.
A spokeswoman for Israel’s Interior Ministry denies any slowdown in the review process, but a growing number of applications every year adds to the workload. Jerusalem’s Mayor Nir Barkat claims that the path to citizenship is open and there is no discrimination.
A member of Jerusalem’s municipal council said absorbing more Arab citizens may be a concern, but on the other hand, awarding citizenship to these residents could facilitate their integration into Israeli society, strengthen Israel’s claim to the city and might help reduce years of neglect of Arab neighborhoods.
Adnan Husseini, the Palestinian Authority official in charge of Jerusalem affairs, says that Jerusalem will be the capital of Palestine one day and Israeli citizenship will be meaningless.
“Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.”
Exodus 22:21