In recent years, Israeli banks have been completely refusing to allow Palestinians who have been legally living in Israel for years to open a bank account.
HaMoked wrote to the Supervisor of Banks to demand that this injurious policy be changed immediately, or at the very least, that the regulations followed by the banks be clarified.
On April 27, 2014,
in response to HaMoked's letter, the Bank of Israel wrote to inform that under the Prohibition on Money Laundering Order, 5761–2001, opening a bank account in Israel requires the presentation of authentic identification certificates; individuals applying to open a bank account fall in two categories: "residents" who must present an identity card, and "foreign residents" who must present a passport; the Bank of Israel went on to inform that an amendment to the Order would enter into effect in August 2014, and address a third category – that of "residents of the Area". According to the Amendment, Palestinians who meet "certain conditions", among them the presentation of a magnetic card issued by civil administration of the Israeli military, will be able to open a bank account in Israel.
HaMoked has since revealed that
the Amendment to the Order had already been published in February 2014, and would enter into effect in August 2014. HaMoked will monitor these developments to ascertain that the banks' discrimination policy would in fact be changed and that Palestinians who legally reside in Israel, some of whom living here for many years as part of a family unification procedure, would be able to open bank accounts and maintain a normal lifestyle.
