Israel is planning a new system to screen Palestinians from the Gaza Strip who wish to enter the country, barring those with criminal or security records.
The plan, which takes effect on June 6, has been approved by Gen, Yitzhak Mordechai, commander of the southern region, Ha’aretz reported Thursday.
The general intends to personally supervise the new measures.
Members of the Gaza Strip civil administration, the security forces, police and southern command soldiers will participate in its implementation, Ha’aretz said.
As of June 6, any Gaza Strip Arab who wishes to enter Israel to work, trade, tour or for any other legitimate purpose must report to assembly centers designated by the civil administration.
These will be schools or other centrally located public buildings.
Once there, they will be subject to questioning by members of the civil administration, the police, the Israel Defense Force or other security forces.
The prospective entrants will have to present their ID cards for security and police checks. If their records are clean, they will be issued which will allow them to travel freely in Israel without being arrested.
The authorities plan to issue more then 150,000 entry cards to Gaza Strip residents in the next two months, Ha’aretz reported.
Mordechai defined the grounds for rejecting an applicant, which will include anyone with a police criminal record, a security record, a conviction for participating in a serious disturbance, conviction for sex-related crimes or membership in a terrorist organization.
Arabs released from administrative detention probably well not be granted entry permits.
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