On Wednesday, a high-rank Palestinian official told al-Quds al-Arabi newspaper that the VIP identity cards carried by Palestinian officials, including the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, will end in March. The news that Israel has refused to renew these cards has caused great concern within Palestinian governments' departments in Ramallah. The VIP cards facilitate coordination of travel between the Israeli and Palestinian governments and allow holders to move freely in the West Bank and Israel. Oddly, the VIP card which the President Mahmoud Abbas holds, does not allow him to enter to Eilat.
According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, millions of Palestinian officials currently hold VIP cards. If Israel withdraws VIP cards, then the officials would become normal citizens under the Israeli practices.
An Israeli security source denied the news of withdrawing the VIP cards from Palestinian officials, especially from President Abbas, or that further restrictions were being placed on officials' movements.
The source said that for technical reasons the VIP cards were issued for all Palestinian officials for only two months.
http://english.pnn.ps/index.php/top-stories/820-palestinian-officials-worry-about-movement-restrictions
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