Guesthouse Association Proposes Selective Ban on Israeli Officials
The National Hotel and Guesthouse Association of Maldives (NHGAM) has expressed its support for a selective ban on Israeli officials entering the country, rather than a blanket ban on all individuals holding Israeli passports.
This stance was communicated during a meeting with the parliamentary committee on security services, known as the 241 committee, which had invited NHGAM to share its views on a proposed amendment to the Immigration Act. The amendment, introduced by the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), aims to prohibit Israeli nationals from entering the Maldives.
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ރައްޔިތުންގެ މަޖިލީހުގެ ސަލާމަތީ ޚިދުމަތްތަކާބެހޭ ކޮމިޓީއިން، ޤާނޫނު ނަންބަރު 1/2007 (ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ އިމިގްރޭޝަންގެ ޤާނޫނު) އަށް އިޞްލާޙު ގެނައުމުގެ ބިލާ ގުޅޭގޮތުން ނޭޝަނަލް ހޮޓެލްސް އެންޑް ގެސްޓްހައުސް އެސޯސިއޭޝަން އޮފް މޯލްޑިވްސްގެ ބޭފުޅުންނާ ބައްދަލުކުރުން pic.twitter.com/FTyoufbRgu— People's Majlis (@mvpeoplesmajlis) November 26, 2024
Ahmed Waheed, Vice President of NHGAM, explained that Israeli laws allow individuals of Jewish descent worldwide, including those in Europe and the United States, to obtain Israeli passports. Waheed argued that banning all Israeli passport holders would negatively affect the tourism industry.
“Banning everyone with an Israeli passport would have a detrimental impact on tourism,” Waheed said during the meeting. “We support restricting entry solely for Israeli leaders, excluding military personnel, as this would address the specific concerns at hand.”
The MDP introduced the amendment following public calls for such measures. In June, the government decided to amend the law to implement a ban on Israeli nationals, in response to rising public sentiment on the issue.
Attorney General Ahmed Usham later addressed the government’s legislative priorities in a press conference, acknowledging that multiple factors needed careful consideration before enacting a blanket ban on all Israeli passport holders.
The parliamentary committee has been reviewing the bill for the past three months and has set a February deadline for completing its assessment.
