On October 25, 2015, it was reported in the media that the Israeli Prime Minister was contemplating revoking the residency status of East Jerusalem Palestinians who live beyond the separation wall.
On October 26, 2015, HaMoked sent the Prime Minister a strong
protest letter against this proposal. HaMoked recalled that in 2003, when the government approved the route of the separation wall around Jerusalem, the state undertook – following the High Court petitions challenging the route – to minimize to the utmost ability the harm to the rights of the local inhabitants.
Moreover, in July 2005, the Israeli Government adopted Resolution 3783, which regulates the supply of municipal services to those city residents who live on the other side of the separation wall. HaMoked points out that despite that, the authorities betrayed their commitment and abandoned the inhabitants of the neighborhoods beyond the wall to their fate, and thus contributed significantly to their harsh predicament, with all that it entails.
HaMoked reaffirmed in its letter that the residents of East Jerusalem are not foreigners, but local inhabitants and native residents of the city, and that it was the decision of Israel to annex their city; therefore, Israel is prohibited from harming their rights, including their basic right to live in their homeland.
