Israel extends marriage ban

ISRAEL’S Cabinet yesterday approved the extension of a law banning Palestinians who marry Israeli Arabs from living in Israel.

The law, enacted last year for an initial one-year period, was extended by six months. It still needs parliamentary approval.

Arabs make up about 20% of Israel’s population of 6.6 million, while about 3 million Palestinians live in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Many families were divided by ceasefire lines after Middle East wars, and over the years, marriage between the two groups has been common.