Maldives Immigration has suggested changing the proposed amendment on banning Israeli passport holders from entering Maldives - a move made in response to Israeli atrocities against the people of Palestine - to allow Israelis entry into Maldives if they travel on a different passport.
The amendment to the Immigration Act banning entry to Maldives for all Israelis was proposed by opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) MP for South Galolhu Meekail Ahmed Naseem on May 29 last year. This was then forwarded to the parliament's Committee on Security Services (241 Committee) for further review, where it has remained stalled to date.
After months, the committee held a meeting on the matter today, where Immigration's proposals in regards to the bill were announced.
As the bill is now, all Israeli passport holders, including dual citizens, will be banned from entry into Maldives.
Immigration instead proposed to ban entry only for those travelling to Maldives on an Israeli passport.
As a reason, Immigration cited that when travelers arrive in the Maldives, Immigration refers to the passports presented to determine their nationalities. Immigration does not have the facilities to ascertain whether any of those arriving are dual passport holders, they said.
Immigration expressed doubts that the bill can be implemented effectively as is.
The committee has also decided to discuss the bill with the Attorney General's Office today for further review.
Meanwhile, Attorney General Ahmed Usham has also previously said that the clause in the bill which bans all Israeli passport holders from entry needs to be amended. He cited as a reason that many Palestinians, too, travel abroad on Israeli passports.
After multiple delays, the currently proposed deadline for the bill is now the end of July.
MDP, as well as many members of the public, continue to criticize the government and ruling People's National Congress (PNC), which holds a super majority in parliament, for the prolonged delays in passing the bill.