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Thousands of Palestinians apply for Israeli citizenship
It's not just fear of Hamas in Gaza (see Wednesday's item) that many Palestinians would prefer to be under Israeli sovreignity. It would seem that many of Jerusalem's Arabs are also trying to flee being subject to their own rulers.
Thousands of Palestinians apply for Israeli citizenship
Intensive talks over division of Jerusalem has prompted its Palestinian residents to make a move once considered the ultimate treason.
Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem calling to set up an appointment with the Interior Ministry to apply for an Israeli citizenship will discover the next available interview date is only in April.
In the months leading up to the upcoming Annapolis peace conference talk of a future division of the city has prompted a staggering increase in nationalization requests by Palestinians seeking to escape life under the Palestinian Authority.



Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (9)
at 07:14 on November 8th, 2007
This is a stunning turnaround for anyone following the situation over there. Good story, thanks for keeping us updated.
at 14:59 on November 8th, 2007
dfrankfurter, the appeal of being a member of democractic country in the face of a military occupation is sensical and the point of the article seems to be that it is a political motivations:
Intensive talks over division of Jerusalem has prompted its Palestinian
residents to make a move once considered the ultimate treason.
The question is are Palestinians applying for Israeli citizenship in order to affect the 'facts on the ground' and pump up the number of Arabs living in Jerusalem or are they worried about living in a Palestinian state.
at 21:27 on November 8th, 2007
From the original article, and from my understanding, the people applying for citizenship simply want to stay as part of Israel, and maintainb their ability to work and move freely in the Jewish State. It would also seem that, although it is dangerous for them to say so, thy are concerned as to what the Palestinian state will look like. Aside from the issues of religious persecution of Christians, lawlessness, corruption and personal safety, history shows that once the Palestinians take the reigns of power, the average man in the street's living standards drop from being one of the best in the Arab world to one of the worst.
at 17:22 on February 26th, 2009
How's that working out? an update please.
at 01:17 on February 27th, 2009
Hamas took over Gaza in a bloody coup, and the Palestinians left the negotiations. With no peace on the horizon, everything is frozen.
at 07:45 on February 27th, 2009
I meant the Palistinians applying for Israeli citizenship. Do they want to live in Israel, not in Gaza or the West Bank.
at 00:21 on March 1st, 2009
I don't think much has changed, but as there is no progress on setting up a Palestinian state, there is no hard evidence.
at 17:43 on February 26th, 2009
Just another example of the illusion created by our goverments OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH
at 06:44 on February 27th, 2009
Who would want to live in a war zone full of fanatical clueless people who just happen to have loads of weapons,they unfortunately learned how to use as young men.I dont like to use the word hate,but it seems that is the air they breath in the war torn countries hatred.