Israel gives legal status to 4,000 Palestinians

Israel yesterday said it would grant legal residency to 4,000 Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, a gesture to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) that will allow people who have lived under severe restrictions for years to get official IDs.

It’s one of a series of gestures announced after a rare high-level meeting in August between Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas aimed at strengthening the PNA.

Other gestures include loaning some $155 million to the cash-strapped PNA and authorising an additional 15,000 permits for Palestinian labourers.

The Israeli body that oversees civilian affairs in the territories said it would approve the registration of 1,200 Palestinians who have been living in the West Bank for many years, but are not listed in the Palestinian population registry.

It will approve a change of address for 2,800 Palestinians who moved to the West Bank from Gaza prior to 2007, when Hamas seized power.

Hussain Al Shaikh, a senior Palestinian official who serves as the liaison with Israel for civilian affairs, confirmed that a “first batch” of 4,000 names had been approved and said the PNA was working to secure more.