Ben Gurion entry for Canadians
Petitioners ask Canada to secure Israeli permission for all Canadian citizens, including Palestinian ID holders, to enter via Ben Gurion without harassment. The government responds it provides consular help but cannot change Israel’s entry rules.
Why we would sign this petition
- It would press Israel to treat Canadian passport holders equally, removing identity-based barriers and upholding citizenship rights.
- Allowing Ben Gurion entry would reduce delays, extra crossings and reported harassment, making travel more reliable for affected Canadians.
- Petitioners note the U.S. secured similar equal treatment; Canadian diplomacy might likewise obtain protections for its citizens.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Canada cannot unilaterally change Israeli border policies; consular help cannot compel another state to alter its entry rules.
- Achieving such a change may require prolonged diplomacy with uncertain results and could divert consular resources from other priorities.
- Israel may cite security or immigration grounds for different procedures for Palestinian ID holders, making a straightforward change impractical.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the House of Commons Canadian citizens who also hold a Palestinian Authority ID or Palestinian passport are prohibited from entering Israel via Ben Gurion International Airport, despite holding valid Canadian passports; They are required to travel through Jordan’s Allenby Bridge crossing, facing delays, harassment, and denial of access, which violates principles of equal treatment and Canadian citizenship rights; and The United States successfully secured equal treatment for its citizens with Palestinian Authority ID through Israel’s Visa Waiver Program, ensuring all U.S. passport holders are treated equally regardless of heritage. We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to ensure that all Canadian citizens, regardless of Palestinian Authority ID or passport, are granted equal treatment by Israel, including the ability to enter via Ben Gurion International Airport, and are not subjected to harassment or movement restrictions due to their heritage or secondary documentation.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Signed by Rob Oliphant The Government of Canada is committed to helping Canadian travellers abroad. Through its embassies and consulates, as well as Global Affairs Canada’s Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa, the Government of Canada offers consular assistance to Canadians around the clock. Canada’s embassy in Tel Aviv, Israel and its Representative Office in Ramallah, Palestine continue to provide consular assistance to Canadians amid the ongoing tensions in the region. From a consular standpoint, as mentioned on Canada’s Israel and Palestine travel advice webpage, the authorities of a country or territory decide who can enter or exit through its borders. Ultimately, Canada controls its own borders – not those of other nations. We are unable to interfere in how another country chooses to handle its border crossings. Canadians do not have an automatic right to enter any country except their own unless it is granted by that country. The Government of Canada cannot intervene on behalf of travellers who do not meet the local authorities’ entry or exit requirements. Palestinian Canadian citizens may be subject to Government of Israel travel regulations for Palestinians, which may prohibit them from travelling through Ben Gurion International Airport, in Tel Aviv, to reach the West Bank and/or the Gaza Strip. From a diplomatic standpoint, Canada has and continues to advocate for the easing of movement restrictions into and throughout Palestinian territory, imposed by Israel. The Canadian government recognizes that these movement restrictions pose a major challenge for Palestinians, including Canadian citizens who hold a Palestinian Authority Identification or Palestinian passport. Such restrictions undermine Palestinians’ livelihoods and their connection to their land. For this reason, Canada’s diplomats posted in the region have and will continue to regularly engage with their Israeli, Palestinian and international counterparts to advocate for the easing of movement restrictions for Palestinians. Canada’s policy towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has always been guided by the deep-rooted conviction that the two-state solution remains the only viable path to enduring peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians. Canada offers its full partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future for both the State of Palestine and the State of Israel, with equal justice and equal rights to prosperity.