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Knesset Committee Advances Unified Identification Number for Foreigners in Israel.
On July 1st, the Knesset’s Special Committee on Foreign Workers held a significant and dramatic discussion, marking the first major breakthrough in years on the issue of identification for foreigners living in Israel. For the first time, the Population and Immigration Authority (PIBA) signaled a clear change in direction toward establishing a single, unified identification number for all foreigners who are not eligible for an Israeli ID, including B-type visa holders, asylum applicants and more.
The Israeli Association for International Couples (AIC), which represents Israeli-international couples navigating the naturalization process in Israel, has been at the forefront of this struggle since 2023. Over the past three years, AIC has actively participated in approximately eight parliamentary discussions across various committees, including the Public Inquiries Committee, the Interior Committee, and the Foreign Workers Committee. AIC has spoken out and submitted position papers on the severe hardships faced by foreign partners of Israelis, who are left without any stable local identification during the B1 visa stage. We also claimed that PIBA’s inaction is the cause of an identification crisis in which a single individual could possess four or five different identities across several government offices.
In all these forums, government ministries repeatedly emphasized the urgent need for a unified identification number, explaining that without it, they cannot properly provide services, enforce laws, or maintain accurate records. Despite this broad consensus, PIBA consistently refused to cooperate, citing ideological concerns about “creating affinity” or encouraging illegal settlement.
The latest major development on this issue was in late 2024, when the Biometrics Law, authorizing the government to collect biometric data from foreigners, was passed. Even then, AIC was at the table, insisting that a unified identification solution should be incorporated into the law. However, the Knesset concluded that additional legislation was unnecessary and that PIBA already had the authority to issue identification numbers if it chose to do so.
In a notable development during the July 1st discussion, the Population and Immigration Authority announced a significant policy shift. New Director General Boaz Yosef declared that a unique, one-to-one identification number for foreigners is essential and can no longer be partial or delayed. PIBA committed to implementing a comprehensive solution — including a dedicated identification number, connection to the biometric database, and a specific document for foreigners — within one year. This marks a dramatic turnaround after years of resistance. He also clarified that the ID issued to foreigners would be different from the Israeli ID (Teudat Zehut), so as not to confuse third parties about the holder’s legal status.
During the discussion, the legal department of PIBA continued to voice their objections to the move. However, Director General Boaz Yosef stated that the Authority would proceed with the identification number solution regardless of the legal department’s position. This exchange highlighted the ongoing tensions between PIBA’s operative management and its legal branch, which has long been associated with extreme ideological views opposing greater integration or support for foreigners in Israel.
AIC thanks MK Eti Attia and the Foreign Workers Committee for their insistent stance on this issue, and congratulates the new Director General of the Population and Immigration Authority, Mr. Boaz Yosef, for his courageous and pragmatic leadership. His acknowledgment that a solution to this long-overdue issue is necessary represents an important step forward.
However, with imminent elections and expected personnel changes in the Knesset, the government, and the Ministry of Interior, it is difficult to predict if and when this change will actually take full effect. Still, this development is undoubtedly a huge step in the right direction. AIC will continue to monitor the process closely to ensure that the rights of international couples are taken into consideration, not overlooked, and given the appropriate treatment.
AIC relentlessly fights for the rights and interests of international couples in Israel. These efforts demand extensive legal work and resources. Please support us by becoming a donor today.
