Within the framework of a series of petitions by the Center for the Defence of the Individual in the matter of family unification in the West Bank four petitioner couples  are opening the door of their homes and are talking about their daily routine in shadow of state and army policy: HaMoked - The Center for the Defence of the Individual  has thus far filed petitions in the names of 47 families, demanding from the army to receive the applications for visitor permits and for family unification, and to recognize the spousal relationship in and of itself as a criterion for approving the application

In the attached film clips the Kasba, Hamdan, Dwikat and Zir families narrate the story of their lives- one the spouses is a resident of the West Bank, whereas the other is a foreign subject. Together they have built a house in the West Bank and have raised children there. Here is their house and their children know of no other place.

In the past, following the occupation of the territories, Israel would routinely approve applications for family unification, but nowadays, aside from exceptional incidences and generally speaking as a result of petitions to the HCJ, the army has refused to receive these applications. Justifying their refusal the army has pointed its accusatory finger at the Palestinian Authority, however this is a baseless accusation – the army is the filter of the applications that reach it, and it is the body which decides which applications the authority’s factors may transfer to it and which applications should not be put in front of it  under any circumstances.  

The army’s policy fatally harms the petitioners’ life. A spouse who is not a resident of the West Bank may not visit his family in his country of origin. The petitioner Dr. Dwikat has not seen her parents and siblings for seven years. The petitioner Dr. Hamdan has not seen her family in Russia for nine full years. The spouses live under constant threat, and since they women do not have a resident’s visa, they are afraid to go out of their homes in the West Bank out of fear that they will be caught and deported far away from their spouses and their children. Their lives are not worth living. 

To view the film of families Kasaba, Hamdan and Devikat dated 19 September, 2007

To view the film of family Zir dated 19 September, 2007