Following the events of the migrant unrest in South Tel Aviv over the weekend, the leader of the Religious Zionist Party, Member of Knesset (MK) Simcha Rothman, announces that he will promote the Basic Law on Immigration to regulate the entry of foreigners into the country for those who are not entitled to enter Israel under the Law of Return.
The Basic Law on Immigration, also known by its full name, "Basic Law: Entry into Israel, Immigration, and Citizenship," as mentioned, was submitted in the previous Knesset by representatives from all the parties currently part of the coalition. It also received the support of the Likud party leader, Binyamin Netanyahu. The proposal for this law is also included in the coalition agreements of the current Knesset.
According to the proposed law's text: "The purpose of this Basic Law is to establish provisions regarding entry into Israel, immigration, the granting of status in Israel, and citizenship, and to ensure an immigration policy that safeguards the unique right to self-definition of the Jewish people in the State of Israel and preserves the sovereignty and security of the State of Israel."
The law seeks to enable the government, with the approval of the Knesset, to set an annual maximum quota for recipients of legal status in Israel, such as citizenship, residency, or a permit that allows a non-Israeli citizen or resident to stay in Israel for a period exceeding one year.
"Rapid promotion of the solutions to remove the infiltrators"
Rothman seeks to shield the law from judicial review by the Supreme Court (High Court of Justice), and he also added a clause stating that someone who is not an Israeli citizen or resident is not allowed to appeal to the court for assistance regarding entry into Israel, and the court will not provide assistance in their case unless it determines that they are entitled to a legal status in Israel according to the law.
MK Simcha Rothman: "The events of last Saturday only strengthened the urgent need to promote solutions for removing infiltrators from Israel. Unfortunately, every step taken by the governments of Israel throughout the generations and the laws passed by the Knesset were invalidated by the Supreme Court. Hence the need for the Basic Law."
Rothman added, "I call on all the Zionist factions in the Knesset, for whom the Jewish and democratic identity of the State of Israel is important, to join and support the bill."
