Israeli passport ban efforts inches forward: Committee stage to begin Tuesday

Five months after Maldives first announced its plans to ban Israeli passport holders from crossing its borders, the country's Parliament has scheduled a Security Services Committee (241 Committee) meeting to decide on the proposed amendment to the Immigration Act which would bring the ban into effect.

Maldives' sanction against Israel is in response to the ongoing genocide in Palestine, and the bill now in parliament, proposed by MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem, calls to refuse entry for all Israeli passport holders, regardless of their dual citizenship status.

Despite the bill originally being submitted to the 241 Committee on 10th June following Parliamentary debate, five months have passed with no further progress.

Speaking on the matter with local media outlet Mihaaru, 241 Committee's Vice Chairperson and MP of Inguraidhoo constituency Ibrahim Falah said that the Tuesday's meeting will decide by when the Comittee will conclude the bill's work, including collection of stakeholder opinions on the matter.

He further said that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu is the most vocal advocate of the Palestinian people among government leaders and that the government-majority Parliament is also trying to decide on the Israeli passport matter as soon as possible.

"We scheduled to [determine] the deadline to decide by. This means the setting a date for the Committee to start and finish its work. Then we will send it to stakeholders for comments. [A]nd we will also summon members from relevant institutions in a way that is transparent for all MPs of the Committee, and finish the work as soon as possible," Falah said.

"Our government has also decided to proceed with this."

Shortly after the bill was submitted to the Parliament by MP Meekail, who is from the opposition party, the Maldivian government, on 2nd June, officially announced plans to change the law to ban Israelis from entering the country. This marked the first time a decision was made regarding the matter at a cabinet level.

As the process advances at a glacial pace, it is also garnering the government criticism from the general public. Many locals have been taking to social media expressing their concern over the delays in officially banning Israelis from the country.

At the time of the Parliamentary debate on the bill MP Falah said that the bill should be referred to the 241 Committee if it is to be expedited and result in a genuine outcome.

While the government also agrees that the law must be changed to implement the ban, they believe the bill needs further revision.

Attorney General Ahmed Usham previously said that passing the bill as is would pose difficulties for the Maldives. He said that the clause banning all Israeli passport holders would not be the best way forward as there are Palestinians who travel on Israeli passport as well.