Citizenship & Residency: Israel, the Occupied Territories, & Canada

"A nation, as a society, forms a moral person, and every member of it is personally responsible for his society." ~ Thomas Jefferson

"Without free, self-respecting, and autonomous citizens there can be no free and independent nations. Without internal peace, that is, peace among citizens and between the citizens and the state, there can be no guarantee of external peace." ~ Vaclav Havel

"The Holocaust illustrates the consequences of prejudice, racism and stereotyping on a society. It forces us to examine the responsibilities of citizenship and confront the powerful ramifications of indifference and inaction." ~ Tim Holden

Becoming a citizen in Israel and Canada is quite different.

In Israel, citizenship is straightforward for Jewish individuals, regardless of their birthplace, thanks to the Law of Return. However, the process is more complicated for non-Jewish individuals, including those who have been living in Israel since before the 1940s or even as far back as the 1800s. Non-Jewish families might find it more challenging to become citizens.

In Canada, we have a different approach to citizenship. Everyone should have a fair chance to become a Canadian citizen. If you live here for a while, learn one of our official languages, and know a bit about our history and government, you can become a citizen. It's a more open and inclusive system, giving everyone an equal opportunity.

Living in Israel and the Occupied Territories can be complex. East Jerusalem residents have a unique status known as "permanent residency." It's not full citizenship but more than being a visitor. They can live and work there but don't have all the rights of Israeli citizens. For Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, life is even more challenging. Many need to have citizenship, which makes everyday life very difficult. They face restrictions on movement and struggle to access government assistance.

If you're not a citizen of Canada, you can still live here as a permanent resident. Being a permanent resident means living, working, and studying in Canada without any problems. However, you won't be able to vote or hold specific government jobs. But no worries - if you'd like to become a full Canadian citizen, you can apply for citizenship after living here for a few years.

Israel and Canada's citizenship and residency systems have significant differences due to their historical backgrounds. Israel's system is centred around the Jewish population and has been characterized as an apartheid socioeconomic and political racial system. In contrast, Canada is known for being inclusive and welcoming to individuals from various backgrounds. It's crucial to recognize that the rights and choices of individuals living in Israel and the Occupied Territories differ from those living in Canada.