Parents of pregnant women, brides repeatedly denied entry
Government authorities are preventing non-Israeli citizens who are first-degree relatives of immigrants to Israel from joining their loved ones for their most important life-cycle events such as births, weddings and funerals, or to come to provide crucial care for ailing close relations.
The Jerusalem Post has learned of parents of a woman set to give birth in 10 days, and the parents of a 20-year-old bride scheduled to get married next month, who have repeatedly been denied entry to Israel by the Population and Immigration Authority.
In another case, the daughter of a 95-year-old Israeli woman about to undergo heart surgery has been refused entry to Israel five times.
These are a few of hundreds of recent examples in which the state has barred immigrants from welcoming their parents or children at the most crucial junctures of life, leaving many angry and distraught at their treatment by the country they chose to make their home.
In numerous cases, the applications are rejected in just a few hours, even a few minutes.
The Permits Committee of the Interior Ministry’s Population and Immigration Authority, which is responsible for approving or denying these requests, says it is acting in line with government policy to limit the entrance of foreign nationals.
The authority’s website says foreign nationals may apply for an entry permit – if they are spouses of Israeli citizens or parents of a child who is an Israeli citizen – for various reasons including pregnancy, a funeral, or other humanitarian necessity, as can anyone