| Voter Registration Monitored The rushed nature of the election registration and the organizers’ lack of knowledge of Israeli demographic policies have unfortunately made most of the concerns expressed by local human rights activists (see AIC memorandum above) come true.
By December 12, the end of the registration period, only approximately 5,500 applications for ID cards were submitted by previously unregistered persons in the West Bank. In the Gaza Strip this opportunity, provided by the Taba Agreement was entirely missed: only 180 applications for ID cards were received by the PA. Thus the number of applications has remained far below the estimated 20,000 - 30,000 persons eligible under Article II/1/g. Of special concern is the fact that the PA-Civil Affairs clerks seem uninformed about prior Israeli High Court decisions and Israeli policy declarations concerning the above category of unregistered persons living in the country. Approximately 50 percent of those who applied for ID cards via the Civil Affairs Committee (non-resident spouses of residents who entered the country between 1990 and August 31, 1992) have a right to ID cards already based on the November “92 High Court Agreement and the summer 1993 policy statement issued by the Israeli State Legal Advisor. They were required to pay a registration fee of US $ 100, although Israel had already agreed to exempt them from additional fees in case the Israeli civil administration would ask them to submit an updated family reunification application. Since the clerks at the PA-Civil Affairs office lack the relevant background information, they tended to accept only applications which included a full record of entry permits for the past three-four years - something which many could not provide. It is likely that they also rejected applications from among those who are eligible to register under the old Israeli provisions.
Currently, the Israeli side is scrutinizing the files collected by the PA. As of December 15, approximately 600 applications have been approved and their names are published in the Palestinian daily press. Approximately 17 percent of the applications have been refused by Israel with no reasons given. |
