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Israel revokes expedited travel permit of Palestine foreign minister – JURIST

The Palestine Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Sunday announced that Israeli authorities withdrew the VIP travel permit for the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Dr. Riyad Al-Malki.VIP travel permits allow selected senior Palestinian officials to travel about the occupied West Bank freely in contrast to ordinary Palestinians.  Authorities revoked the benefit during Riyad Al-Malki’s return to Palestine after a visit to Brazil. According to the Palestinian Authority (PA), VIP status is mandatory by international law. The PA explained:[T]he implementation of this arbitrary measure is a flagrant violation of international law and the agreements and understandings signed between the Israeli and Palestinian sides, explaining that facilitating the movement of officials and Palestinian citizens under occupation is not “facilitation” or “privileges” granted by the occupying power, but rather is part of its obligations as a power Occupation towards the Palestinian people.Benjamin Netanyahu became the Prime Minister of Israel for the third time in December 2022. He issued a statement after his first meeting with the Ministerial Committee on National Security Affairs listing out steps in response to “the Palestinian Authority’s decision to wage political and legal war against the State of Israel.” The cabinet approved measures like “[p]lacing a moratorium on Palestinian construction plans in Area C, following illegal take-over attempts by the PA, in opposition to international agreements. Denying benefits to VIPs who are leading the political and legal war against Israel.Netanyahu’s actions come just a week after a UN resolution condemned “the settlement activities of Israel as ‘violations of international humanity law,’ ‘steadily eroding the two-state solution’ and ‘undermin[ing] the prospect of peace’ in the region.”