New Rules Leave West Bank Residents Nervous

JERUSALEM (April 11) -- Shadi Z. has been living in the West Bank for 16 years, ever since he left his home in Gaza to study at Bir Zeit University. Today he's married, the father of two young children, and works at a non-profit Palestinian youth organization. Now Shadi, who asked that his last name not be used, is worried that a new Israeli army regulation could result in his expulsion to Gaza, or even to being jailed for violating a new Israeli military order.

"I really am so worried," he told AOL News by phone from the West Bank town of Ramallah. "Everything I have -- my work, my family -- is here in the West Bank. Now whenever I go out, I call my wife and ask if she heard about any checkpoints where Israeli soldiers might stop me and then send me back to Gaza."

Shadi's fears are from new Israeli military orders that anyone caught living in the West Bank without an Israeli permit could face expulsion within three days or could be sentenced to up to seven years in prison. The orders were posted on the Web site of the military prosecutor and go into effect on Tuesday.

Israeli human rights groups say the new regulations could affect tens of thousands of Palestinians as Israeli residency permits are almost impossible to obtain.

"It's part of a series of steps that have been taken to empty the West Bank of Palestinians because of Israeli territorial claims there," Sari Bashi, the Director of Gisha, the Legal Center for Freedom of Movement told AOL News. "The motivations of this policy appear to be political rather than security-oriented. There is no allegation that any of the thousands of Palestinains whose status Israel disagrees with pose any security risk. This policy will terrify them into not leaving their houses for fear of being removed forcibly from their homes."

Gisha, along with nine other Israeli human rights groups, appealed to Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak to rescind the order. An Israeli army spokesman denied that the change would make it worse for many Palestinians.

"The rule was always that anyone who doesn't have the proper permits to be in Judea and Samaria could be removed," Israeli army spokesman Captain Barak Raz told AOL News. "This adds a level of judicial oversight to those who are in question. Before if someone didn't have the necessary paperwork, the only way he could appeal it was to the Supreme Court. Now this gives him a chance to be heard to state his case and appeal his decision."

Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat called the new measures "an assault on ordinary Palestinians, and an affront to the most fundamental principles of human rights."

Shadi Z. said he had applied for an Israeli permit several times but was turned down. Bashi, of the group Gisha, says Israel routinely turns down requests for residence in the West Bank

Today about 2.3 million Palestinians live in the West Bank, along with 300,000 Jewish settlers. Palestinians say the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem must become the future Palestinian state.

Even before the new regulations have taken effect, many Palestinians say they are worried. Shadi says he and his wife have discussed an "action plan" if he does get picked up at a checkpoint and deported. For now, he says, he will leave his house only when necessary.