<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[Occupied Palestine | فلسطين]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[https://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[occupiedpalestine]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/author/hajarhajar/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Maan News Agency: Israel extends family reunification&nbsp;ban]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<div class="ViewDetails_Title">
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p style="text-align:center;"><a href="http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=347620"><img src='https://occupiedpalestine.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/15116.jpg' alt='' /></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
</div>
<div>
<div class="ViewDetails_Stamp">Published today  23:18</div>
<div style="float:left;"><img style="cursor:pointer;" src="https://i2.wp.com/www.maannews.net/eng/images/ViewDetails/Eng-1.jpg" alt="Font-" /> <img style="cursor:pointer;" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.maannews.net/eng/images/ViewDetails/Eng+1.jpg" alt="Font+" /></div>
</div>
<div class="ViewDetails_ImgDiv"></div>
<div id="BODYdiv" class="ViewDetails_BodyDiv">JERUSALEM  (AFP) &#8212; Israel on Sunday extended for six months a ban preventing  Palestinians married to Israelis immigrating to the state, the premier&#8217;s  office said in a statement.</p>
<p>&#8220;The ministerial committee for  security affairs decided tonight [Sunday] to extend for six months a  text on family unification, which expired December 31,&#8221; said a statement  from the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.</p>
<p>That extension until June 30 denies Palestinians the right to acquire Israeli citizenship or resident status through marriage.</p>
<p>The  so-called Family Unification provision has been the subject of an  outcry from leftist movements and groups representing the country&#8217;s  Palestinian minority, who charge the ban is &#8220;inhumane&#8221; and &#8220;racist.&#8221;</p>
<p>The  ministerial committee also asked the justice minister &#8220;to work towards  early finalisation of a law on family unification, which will meet the  national security and long-term interests of the government of Israel,&#8221;  the statement added.</p>
<p>The Israeli government is concerned that uncontrolled immigration could slowly erode the state&#8217;s Jewish identity.</p>
<p>Palestinians in Israel currently number some 1.4 million, or 20 percent of the population.</p></div>
<p><a href="http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=347620">Maan News Agency: Israel extends family reunification ban</a>.</p>
]]></html><thumbnail_url><![CDATA[https://occupiedpalestine.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/15116.jpg?fit=440%2C330]]></thumbnail_url><thumbnail_width><![CDATA[]]></thumbnail_width><thumbnail_height><![CDATA[]]></thumbnail_height></oembed>