A representative of the embassy of Israel in Ottawa stated that an Israeli citizen cannot simultaneously hold both an Israeli passport and a laissez-passer (9 Nov. 1994). A laissez-passer is only issued to an Israeli citizen as a replacement for a lost passport. Should the passport be found, the laissez-passer must be returned to the Ministry of the Interior, which issues both passports and laissez-passer travel documents (ibid).

According to the embassy official, the passport is a blue document issued only to Israeli citizens, whereas the laissez-passer is an orange document issued to Palestinians of Gaza and the West Bank, as well as to Israeli citizens who have lost their Israeli passports. Although the laissez-passer resembles the Israeli passport and contains the same regulations and information, its status is lower than that of the Israeli passport (ibid).

The following information was provided by the same Israeli embassy official in a subsequent telephone interview on 16 November 1994. The laissez-passer and the Israeli passport are both official Israeli travel documents. If an Israeli citizen who lives in Israel loses his Israeli passport while abroad, he must report the loss to an Israeli embassy or consulate, which will then issue him a laissez-passer. This laissez-passer is a temporary document that will allow the citizen to return to Israel, whereupon he will be issued a new passport. Should an Israeli citizen living outside of Israel lose his Israeli passport, he will be issued a new Israeli passport. The official could not say how long it would take to issue a new passport, but stated that a check would be made to see whether the individual had reported the loss of his passport to an Israeli embassy or consulate (ibid.).

According to a letter from the Canadian embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel, faxed to Citizenship and Immigration Canada and forwarded to the DIRB, although immigrants to Israel receive citizenship automatically, Israeli passports are not issued until one year of residency in Israel has been completed (26 Sept. 1994). Immigrants can, however, obtain a travel document immediately (ibid.).

Please consult Responses to Information Requests ISR14338 of 16 June 1993 and ISR13866 of 21 April 1993 for additional information on Israeli travel documents.

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.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada International Service, Ottawa. 26 September 1994. Fax received by the DIRB.

Embassy of the State of Israel, Ottawa. 16 November 1994. Telephone interview with counsellor.

. 9 November 1994. Telephone interview with counsellor.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada International Service, Ottawa. 26 September 1994. Fax received by the DIRB.