According to an official at the Embassy of the State of Israel in Ottawa in a telephone interview, an Israeli woman and her non-Jewish, non-Israeli husband, who were married outside Israel, would have the right to reside in Israel. The husband would subsequently be eligible to obtain Israeli citizenship according to the regulations in place (5 Apr. 1995). The official added that the two main factors that the Israeli authorities would consider when reviewing the citizenship application of the husband would be the fact that he is married to an Israeli citizen and that usually, they do not separate family members (ibid.).

For further information on mixed marriages, please refer to Response to Information Request ISR14539 of 29 June 1993 and its attachments, including two letters from the Consulate General of Israel in Toronto which provide useful information. Response to Information Request ISR13865 of 21 April 1993 also provides information on mixed couples. Please consult an attached extract from the Israeli Nationality Law of 1952, for information on the acquisition of nationality by the spouse of a person who is an Israeli national. In a subsequent telephone interview, the official at the Embassy of the State of Israel in Ottawa could not confirm whether there have been any amendments to the Israeli Nationality law of 1952 (10 Apr. 1995).

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this information request.

Embassy of the State of Israel, Ottawa. 5 and 10 April 1995. Telephone interviews with an official.

Israel. Nationality Law. 14 July 1952. Unofficial translation. (UNHCR/REFLEG).