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The Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law

(July 31, 2003)

Definitions 1. In this law -
"area" - any one of the following: Judea and Samaria, and the Gaza Strip;
"Citizenship Law" - The Citizenship Law, 5712 - 1952;
"Entry into Israel Law" - Entry into Israel Law, 5712 - 1952;
"Area Commander" - the commander of the Israel Defense Forces in the area;
"inhabitant of an area" - including anyone residing in the area, even though he is not registered in the population register of the area, and excluding the inhabitant of an Israeli settlement in the area.
Limitation of citizenship and stay in Israel 2. During the period in which this law shall remain in force, despite what is said in any legal provision, including article 7 of the Citizenship Law, the Minister of the Interior shall not grant the inhabitant of an area citizenship on the basis of the Citizenship law, and shall not give him a license to reside in Israel on the basis of the Entry into Israel Law, and the Area Commander shall not grant a said inhabitant, a permit to stay in Israel, on the basis with the security legislation in the area.
Reservations 3. Despite the instructions of article 2 - 
    (1) The Minister of the Interior, or the Area Commander, as the case may be, is entitled to grant an inhabitant of an area a license to reside in Israel, or a permit to stay in Israel, for a fixed period, for the purpose of work, or in order to receive medical treatment, and also for some other temporary purpose - for a cumulative period of no more than six months, as well as a license to reside in Israel, or a permit to stay in Israel in order to prevent the separation of a child, aged up to 12, from its parent who is staying in Israel legally;
    (2) The Minister of the Interior is entitled to grant citizenship, or provide a license to reside in Israel, to an inhabitant of an area, if he is convinced that he identifies with the State of Israel and its goals, and that he or a member of his family performed a significant act to promote the security, economy or some other important matter of the State, or that the granting of citizenship or provision of the license to reside in Israel, are of special interest to the State; In this paragraph, "member of family" - spouse, parent, child.
Transition regulations 4. Despite the instructions of this law -
    (1) The Minister of the Interior or the Area Commander, as the case may be, is entitled to prolong the validity of a license to reside in Israel, or of a permit to stay in Israel, that were in the possession of the inhabitant of an area, on the eve of this law going into force;
    (2) The Area Commander is entitled to grant a permit for a temporary stay in Israel to an inhabitant of an area, who applied for citizenship, in accordance with the Citizenship Law, or made a request for a license to reside in Israel, in accordance with the Entry into Israel Law, before Sunday, Sivan 1, 5862 (May 12, 2002), and in whose case a decision was not yet taken on the day that this law went into force, as long as the said inhabitant shall not be granted, on the basis of the instructions of this paragraph, citizenship in accordance with the Citizenship Law, and shall not be given a license to stay temporarily, or to stay permanently, in accordance with the Entry into Israel Law.
Validity 5. This law shall remain in force until the end of a year from the day on which it is published, but the Government is entitled, with the approval of the Knesset, to prolong its validity by order, from time to time, for a period that shall not exceed one year on each occasion.

Source: Knesset