The Israeli Knesset on Monday extended a law that prevents Palestinian families from reunifying for another year, according to Anadolu News Agency.

By a 20–9 vote, the Knesset declared in a statement the passage of the law‘s extension.

Enacted initially in 2003 when the Palestinian Intifada had reached its peak, the law was subsequently extended yearly.

The law targets Palestinian families living in East Jerusalem or Israel and married to Palestinians from either the West Bank or Gaza, and does not allow them to have residence permits in Israel.

According to the law, the Israeli Interior Minister is prohibited from providing citizenship or residency in Israel to any individuals from Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Lebanon.

Iman Khatib–Yasin, an Arab representative in the Knesset, characterized the law extension as a “total contradiction of democracy“.

She stated that racism was being perpetuated for no reason, and that the people with temporary residency were constantly in fear of being forced to move away from Israel and be separated from their families.

NGOs from both Palestine and Israel assert that thousands of Palestinian households have been impacted by the legislation.