Palestine: Whether a permit is required from Israel for a Palestinian resident of Bethlehem to travel to work in Ramallah and back, whether a permit guarantees free movement past checkpoints

Since March 1993 Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank (except for residents of Jerusalem) have been required to obtain permits from the Israeli authorities in order to enter Israel or Jerusalem (Country Reports 2000, 2001, Section 2d). However, Israel periodically imposes "closures" during which even holders of permits are prevented from entering Israel and Jerusalem (ibid.).

A spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon noted that it is difficult for Palestinians to travel between the southern part of the West Bank (e.g. Bethlehem) and the northern part (e.g. Ramallah) and vice-versa without passing through Jerusalem (AP 14 May 2001). According to another Israeli source, it is necessary for vehicles travelling between Bethlehem and Ramallah to pass through Jerusalem (Haaretz 15 Mar. 2001).

Media sources consulted by the Research Directorate also indicate that Israel periodically imposes general "closures" which prevent Palestinians from moving from one community to another within the West Bank (In These Times 30 Apr. 2001; NPR 16 Oct. 2000) and from Bethlehem to Jerusalem (Washington Report on Middle East Affairs 28 Feb. 2000). In addition, Israeli soldiers have stopped traffic between Ramallah and Jerusalem by searching every vehicle (DPA 2 June 2001; In These Times 30 Apr. 2001).

The following is excerpted from the Internet website of the Israeli human rights organization B'tselem:

Following the Six-Day War, in 1967, Israel's military commanders in the West Bank and Gaza Strip issued orders proclaiming these areas to be closed military areas. In 1972, general exit orders were issued. These allowed Occupied Territories residents to leave the Occupied Territories freely, enter Israel and East Jerusalem, and pass between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Residents of the Occupied Territories were not allowed to stay in Israel and East Jerusalem between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.

In June 1989, for the first time, Israel restricted the general exit permits. In the Gaza Strip, Israel imposed a magnetic-card system, whereby only those with such a card were allowed to leave the Strip. The authorities did not issue magnetic cards to released prisoners, former administrative detainees, or even Palestinians who had been detained and released without charges being filed against them. In the West Bank, green, rather than orange, identity cards were issued to Palestinians whom Israel prohibited from leaving the Occupied Territories.

In January 1991, during the Gulf War, Israel changed the policy it had implemented since it first occupied the Occupied Territories, in 1967. The general exit permits of 1972 were revoked, and every resident of the Occupied Territories wanting to enter Israel had to have a personal exit permit. The effect of revocation of the general exit permit on Occupied Territories residents was not immediate. At first, Israel issued many permits for relatively long periods, and except for days in which a total closure on the Occupied Territories was imposed, most Palestinians could continue to enter Israel routinely. However, Israel's permit policy gradually became stricter. Thus, beginning in 1991, the number of residents of the Occupied Territories entering Israel and East Jerusalem steadily decreased.

The new policy created a situation in which the Occupied Territories were divided into three areas, with passage between them requiring a permit from the Israeli authorities: the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. Movement within the West Bank was also limited, insofar as the main road between the southern and northern areas of the West Bank passes through Jerusalem, into which entry was prohibited.

Revocation of the general exit permit in 1991 marked the beginning of the permanent closure policy, which reached its apex two years later. In March 1993, following the killing of nine Israeli civilians and six security forces' personnel by Palestinian residents of the Occupied Territories, Israel imposed an overall closure on the Occupied Territories "until further notice." To enforce the closure, Israel set up checkpoints along the Green Line separating Israel and the West Bank, between the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and within the Occupied Territories. Approvals were granted sparingly and according to criteria unknown to Palestinians.

The closure policy remains in effect. The Oslo Accords and the geo-political changes that followed had almost no effect on these restrictions. The severity of the closure varies. For example, after Palestinian violence against Israelis, the authorities impose a total closure, during which no exit permits are granted, except in exceptional cases. A total closure is also often imposed on the Occupied Territories during Israeli holidays. At times, Israel also imposes an internal closure, which affects specific towns or villages in the West Bank, preventing or blocking movement within the West Bank (30 Jan. 2001).

For more information on restrictions on freedom of movement for Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, please see Country Reports 2000.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Associated Press (AP). 14 May 2001. "Officials: Peres Opposes Jerusalem Road that would Demolish Palestinian Property." (NEXIS)

B'tselem. 30 January 2001 [Last Modified]. "Policy of Closure." [Accessed 5 July 2001]

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2000. 2001. US Department of State. Washington, D.C. [Accessed 28 June 2000]

Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA). 2 June 2001. BC Cycle. "Near-Empty Streets as Ramallah Braces for Israeli Retaliation." (NEXIS)

Haaretz [Tel Aviv]. 15 March 2001. "Committee Approves J'lem Ring Road Through West Bank." (Financial Times Information/NEXIS)

In These Times. 30 April 2001. Charmaine Seitz. "Down and Out in Ramallah: Palestinian Poverty Rises as Israel Seals Off the West Bank." (NEXIS)

National Public Radio (NPR). 16 October 2000. "Ongoing Mideast Summit and Hopes for an End to Violence in the Region." (NEXIS)

Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. 28 February 2000. Roxanne Assaf. "As Bethlehem Prepares for Millennium Tourism, Israelis Are Increasing the Obstacles." (NEXIS)

Additional Sources Consulted

Unsuccessful attempts to contact four non-documentary sources