Israeli Shortcut’s Efforts to Amend Legislation and Regulations for Foreign Citizens
26.12.2016
The increasing number of inquiries which we have been getting from day to day has shown the urgency of targeting the source of many of the hardships.
The bureaucratic barriers and labyrinth of regulations that we worked on this month include:
- Ministry of Transportation: non-recognition of foreign driver’s licenses, and the economic and legal ramifications for foreign citizens.
- Tax Authority: redefining permanent residency to avoid negating a resident’s rights.
- IDF: regulations that unfairly impact immigrants and returning residents while seeking consideration for their individual circumstances and situations.
- Banks: Discriminatory measures against foreign citizens.
- Interior Ministry: Assistance for those who don’t fit into the existing legal status definitions.
- Municipal authorities: Improving services and adapting them to the needs of foreign citizens.
- We are also in touch with a number of other ministries and offices.
Many of these regulations are so onerous that many foreign citizens have misgivings whether to settle in Israel. We believe that our achieving cooperation with government agencies will have the beneficial effect of encouraging aliya.
Zev Zer, Israeli Shortcut’s chairman, explains the difficulties that he faces: "The problem is that we have to deal with the heads of departments and divisions in municipalities and government offices in those areas where we want to bring about change for the benefit of foreign citizens living in Israel. But they themselves are dependent on the politicians — the ministers, mayors and other senior administrators."
He adds: "Anyone who has conducted negotiations with government offices knows how difficult it is to move the wheels of bureaucracy. We will do our utmost to faithfully represent our sector before the various authorities.
“We are convinced that a breakthrough for this public is around the corner, which we believe will make a significant contribution to aliya to this country.”
Israeli Shortcut will continue to bring you updates of its actions and accomplishments on behalf of foreign citizens.
