PNC MPs change tune on Israeli passport ban bill, citing tourism impacts

Ruling PNC lawmakers’ tune has changed regarding the Israeli passport ban bill, now claiming such a ban would impact tourism.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s cabinet made the decision to make legislative changes to ban Israeli passports on June 2nd in light of Israel’s ongoing genocidal war in Gaza.

At the time, the Parliament had already received a bill from South Galolhu MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem from opposition MDP, seeking a blanket ban on travelers with Israeli passports.

MP Meekail’s bill is designed to add a clause to Article 8 of Immigration Act, which lists individuals who are barred from entering the Maldives.

It seeks to bar the entry of all Israeli passport holders, including those who have dual citizenship.

The bill was accepted and forwarded to the National Security Committee (241) Committee with full backing from PNC lawmakers.

Despite support from ruling party lawmakers which holds supermajority in the Parliament, the bill had remained stymied at the Committee stage for months. The delays prompted MDP to submit emergency motions on various occasions. MP Meekail also sent a letter to Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla seeking to clarify the reasons behind the delays.

Five months past its submission, 241 Committee convened for a meeting regarding the bill on November 12th during which a February 2025 deadline was set to complete the review of the bill.

On the agenda on Wednesday’s parliamentary sitting was the debate on an emergency motion filed by MDP over the stymied bill. In a complete U-turn, today, ruling party lawmakers are singing a completely different tune regarding the bill.

In this regard, PNC’s parliamentary group deputy leader, Baarah MP Ibrahim Shujau stressed that Maldives’ livelihood was entirely dependent on tourism.

“Every country is linked with each other. It is not acceptable for us, for them (Israelis) to attain happiness from the beauty of Maldives. Nevertheless, at this time where every country is linked with each other and getting help from each other, there may be countries linked to Israel that might slap us with sanctions,” he said.

Henceforth, Shujau said such crucial decisions should be taken following careful consideration and extensive discussions. In this trajectory, he noted that discussions were being held with all relevant authorities and stakeholders in addition to political parties.

Shujau went onto commend President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, citing him to be the head of state among all incumbents to most fiercely advocate for the rights of Palestinian. On this note, he detailed that President Muizzu advocated for Palestine at every chance he got before a podium.

North Thinadhoo MP Saudhulla Hilmy remarked that Arabs are brotherly and sisterly people of Palestine in terms of family, ethnicity and religion. He underscored the need to consider the people of Maldives while seeking to take action which nations, that are much wealthier and closer to Palestinians, have not implemented.

Saeed stressed that individuals elected to the parliament to convey the voice of the people should consider whether banning Israel passport would benefit the Maldives, or cause losses, before going ahead with the decision.

He further said Maldives was not presently in a state it could afford to have conflicts with any other nation, adding the island nation was in a state it was required to consider all matters when acting on anything.

“While we protest against Israelis visiting the Maldives, there are citizens of that nation who are of the same religion as well. I do not believe there should a reason to ban them from visiting the Maldives,” he added.

PNC’s parliamentary group deputy leader, Vilimale’ MP Mohamed Ismail alleged MDP’s actions with respect to the bill were linked to their political ideology.

He accused the opposition party of recruiting Israeli doctors and teachers to work in the Maldives during the party’s last administration and scattering them across the nation at a time when he claimed the issue was most prevalently talked about.

Mohamed Ismail further noted that MDP had every opportunity to amend the Immigration Act to ban Israeli passports when the party held a supermajority during the previous parliamentary assembly.

Mounting outrage over the atrocities in Gaza and other occupied Palestinian territories has sparked protests in the streets of the capital, Male’ City, with Maldivians demanding that the government ban Israeli citizens from entering the country.

Israel’s current war on Gaza, which began on October 7, 2023, has killed more than 43,00 Palestinians, many of them women and children. It has also reduced much of the Palestinian territory to rubble, displaced the vast majority of residents, and resulted in widespread malnutrition. The war has now expanded to neighboring Lebanon.