New immigrants to receive instant passports

Knesset cancels year-long wait time, as law goes into effect next month.

By LAHAV HARKOV
Israeli passport [Illustrative] (photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)
Israeli passport [Illustrative]
(photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)
A new law canceling the waiting period for new immigrants to receive an Israeli passport passed a final vote in the Knesset on Monday.
During their first year in Israel, new olim have received a travel document instead of a passport, which could limit their ability to travel in some cases. The new law, which will go into effect in 30 days, states that the Interior Minister is no longer able to deny a passport to new immigrants who came to live in Israel via the Law of Return.
The law will also apply to people who made aliya before it passed.
MK Oded Forer (Yisrael Beytenu), who proposed the law, said it fixed an archaic law and a long-existing injustice.
“The new law regulates the basic right of every citizen, who, because he receives an Israeli ID card, is required to serve in the IDF and can vote and be elected, deserves a passport as well,” Forer stated.
“Many people make aliya but have jobs that require travel outside of the country. They can now continue their work while living in Israel. The days in which new olim were considered second- rate citizens who don’t get passports are over.”