A representative of the Israeli embassy in Ottawa stated that Palestinians travelling on an Israeli laissez-passer still must obtain a return visa in order to return to the West Bank (12 Aug. 1994). According to the representative, since the 1993 PLO-Israeli Accord, the Palestinian Administrative Authority coordinates the management of this policy with the Israeli authorities. Until an agreement is reached on permanent autonomous status for the occupied areas, the situation will remain the same (ibid.).

The above information was corroborated by representatives of the UK Refugee Association in London, Mattin (Centre for Productions Development), a private organization in Ramallah that promotes industrial development in the West Bank, and Centre for Policy Analysis on Palestine in Washington, DC (9 Aug. 1994; 10 Aug. 1994; 11 Aug. 1994). The representative of the UK Refugee Association also stated that Palestinians face possible non-renewal of the return visa if they overstay their return visas (9 Aug. 1994). According to the representative, Palestinian travellers generally ensure that the return visa on the laisser-passer is in order before leaving the West Bank. The representatives of Mattin and the Centre for Policy Analysis on Palestine corroborated this information provided by the UK Refugee Association representative (10 Aug. 1994; 11 Aug. 1994).

The Mattin representative provided additional information concerning the Israeli laisser-passer and return visas as they apply to West Bank Palestinians (10 Aug. 1994). The representative stated that the return visa is valid for only one trip and for one year, and that the time required to secure the return visa varies from person to person. The official described the procedures for securing a return visa as tedious. The applicant must first apply to the military administration government, which has the initial control over the approval or rejection of an application (ibid.). A decision by the military administration government may take ten days (ibid.). If approved, the application is sent to the Interior Office in Israel, which has final approval authority on the application. This may take another seven days (ibid.).

In times of social and political unrest in the West Bank, the process for procuring a return visa may be complicated by the security demands of the Israeli authorities (ibid.). For instance, during the Intifada uprising, the process took more than a month and a number of approval levels were added to it (ibid.). The representative stated that the cost of a return visa is about $US45, although a return visa can still be withdrawn by the authorities without stating any reason. There have been cases in which return visa holders were prevented from leaving at the point of departure in the West Bank or Israel. Expiring return visas can be renewed at Israeli missions abroad (ibid.). The renewal process is equally demanding because one must give authorities "a very good" explanation of why the visa has expired (ibid.). The representative stated that she had heard of cases in which return visa renewal applications were rejected by Israeli embassy officials.

The representative of the Centre for Policy Analysis in Palestine in Washington, DC stated that the length of the return visa is also determined by the age of the applicant (11 Aug. 1994). According to the representative, persons between the ages of 18 and 26 who travel on Israeli laisser-passer cannot return to the West Bank within six months (ibid.). The source did not elaborate and the DIRB is unable to corroborate this information at the present time.

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.

Centre for Policy Analysis on Palestine, Washington, DC. 11 August 1994. Telephone interview with representative.

Embassy of Israel, Ottawa. 12 August 1994. Telephone interview with representative.

Mattin (Centre for Productions Development), Ramallah, West Bank. 10 August 1994. Telephone interview with representative.

UK Refugee Association, London. 9 August 1994. Telephone interview with representative.