Non-Jewish Spouses of Israeli Citizens After Family Break-Up

The naturalization process for non-Jews who are married to individuals that have immigrated to Israel under the Law of Return can take years. If the couple does not remain together during this naturalization process - either due to separation, divorce, death of the spouse who holds citizenship, or violent behavior by the latter toward the non-Jewish spouse - the visa of the non-Jewish spouse is almost always automatically cancelled, regardless of the length of time he/she has resided in Israel. In many cases, all it takes to cancel the visa of the non-Jewish spouse is an appeal to the Ministry of Interior by the spouse who holds citizenship. Ministry officials do not bother waiting for the initiation of formal divorce proceedings before cancelling the visa and the non-Jewish spouse is even denied the right to present his/her case to Ministry officials before the latter make a decision regarding deportation.  

This harsh policy on the part of the Ministry of Interior is sometimes used by the spouse who holds citizenship as a means of abusing the non-Jewish spouse. The temporary legal civil status of the non-Jewish spouse is exploited primarily by male citizens against their non-Jewish wives because the latter's entitlement to a legal civil status in Israel rests solely on their marriage to an Israeli citizen. In these situations, whenever conflict arises between the couple, the man can threaten his wife with the loss of her legal civil status unless she submits to his demands. There are also cases in which the woman is a victim of domestic violence, yet she is hesitant to file a complaint against her husband for fear of being deported. In these instances, she must make an impossible choice between a life of humiliation and violence or deportation.

Personal Story: Story of the I. Family, Karmiel