A resolution calling to expedite the bill submitted to the People’s Majlis to ban entry of people with Israeli passports to the Maldives was rejected on Wednesday.
15 members voted in favor of accepting the resolution during Wednesday’s parliamentary sitting. 63 members voted to reject the resolution.
The parliamentarians that voted against rejecting the resolution were 12 representing the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), MP for Velidhoo constituency Mohamed Abbas who is affiliated with MDA, independent MP for Addu Meedhoo constituency Abdul Rahman and MP for Mahibadhoo constituency presenting the main ruling People’s National Congress (PNC), Ahmed “Tom” Thoriq.
Members of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's PNC and a member of MNP voted to reject the resolution.
Five other PNC lawmakers present in the chamber at the time abstained from the vote.
The resolution was submitted to the parliament by MDP’s North Galolhu constituency lawmaker Mohamed “Kudoo” Ibrahim.
The resolution stated that the bill has been in the committee stage for more than four months, and since the government party has a full majority in the parliament, while the government is passing other bills through the parliament as they want when they want, even holding extraordinary sittings to pass some bills, it urged the government to push for the bill to be passed by the parliament as soon as possible.
Many parliamentarians representing the government who spoke about the resolution spoke against accepting it.
Speaking about banning Israeli passports during Wednesday's sitting, PNC lawmaker for North Thinadhoo constituency Saudullah Hilmy said that the decision whether banning Israeli passports would be a loss or benefit to the Maldives needs to be thought out thoroughly.
The lawmaker stressed that with the situation of Maldives is in presently, we cannot afford to clash with another country or citizen and expressed that he doesn’t believe relations should be soured with Israel.
PNC’s MP for Baarah constituency Ibrahim Shujau also spoke against banning Israeli passports. He said that since the Maldives is dependent on tourism, if measures are taken against Israel, other countries associated may take measures against the Maldives.
The Parliament's Committee on National Security Services or the 241 Committee decided to extend the issue of the bill to ban Israeli passports until February 2025, during a committee meeting held on November 12.
A bill to amend the Immigration Act to ban entry with Israeli passports was submitted to the parliament on 29 May 2024.
The bill was submitted by MP for South Galolhu constituency Meekail Naseem, in a bid to amend the Immigration Act, to ban the entry of tourists with Israeli passports into the Maldives.
While the bill to amend the Immigration Act to ban entry with Israeli passports was in parliament, PNC issued a statement on October 15 calling for the matter to be expedited.
The government announced its decision to amend the law to change the arrangement allowing Israelis to enter the Maldives on 2 June 2024.
After that, the bill to ban Israeli passports was accepted by the People’s Majlis and sent to the 241 Committee on June 10.
Due to the delay in the work on this bill, not only the opposition party MDP but also many members of the public have been criticizing the government and the PNC-affiliated majority in parliament.
Several have been saying that the Israeli passport issue has been prolonged in the current parliament assembly, which has been passing government-proposed issues at rocket speed, because the government does not want to do it.
Meanwhile, in the ongoing genocide against innocent Palestinian citizens by Israel, thousands are being martyred every day, with over 45,000 people killed so far. Many of the victims are children and women.
