Meretz to vote against extending Palestinian family reunification law

The coalition’s left-wing Meretz party announces it will oppose extension of the controversial Palestinian family reunification law, which blocks the automatic granting of citizenship to Palestinians who marry Israeli citizens.

The law, renewed annually since 2003, is set to expire July 6. A Knesset vote is planned for July 5, but the coalition is looking increasingly unlikely to pass it. The right-wing opposition parties support the law, but plan to vote against it to embarrass the coalition.

“This is a law that discriminates against a population on the basis of race, that was born in sin. Meretz has petitioned the High Court over the law in the past and will vote against it if it is brought to a vote.”