Court Delays Deportation of Moroccan Wife of Israeli Former Combat Soldier
The Beersheba Appeals Tribunal temporarily blocked the deportation of Salma Jude, a Moroccan citizen married to an Israeli former combat soldier, pending a legal review.
The Population and Immigration Authority has ordered the deportation of Salma Jude, a Moroccan citizen married to Yosef Inbar, an Israeli citizen and former Border Police combat soldier, despite the couple having a joint daughter registered in the population registry as an Israeli citizen. Today, the Appeals Tribunal in Beersheba ruled that pending a decision on the motion for an interim order, Jude will not be deported. The decision also states that the state must submit its response to the appeal within 30 days and its response to the request for temporary remedies within 15 days.
Background of the Couple
Inbar, an Israeli citizen living in Eilat for about 10 years, served as a regular Border Police combat soldier between March 2018 and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. According to him, he is recognized by the Rehabilitation Department at the Ministry of Defense and receives regular medical treatment following his service. He met his wife in Morocco through an arranged introduction. They became engaged in November 2023 and married in Morocco in November 2024. Salma entered Israel in January 2025 under the staged procedure for spouses of Israeli citizens, receiving a B/1 visa. In May 2025, their daughter, Mask, was born and registered under both parents at the same address in Eilat.
In September 2025, the Eilat branch of the Population and Immigration Authority conducted an interview with the couple. According to the appeal, Jude was interviewed via telephone translation. Two days later, a psychiatrist in Eilat diagnosed her with anxiety and recommended treatment. On September 30, 2025, the request was denied. Following an internal appeal, another interview was held in June 2026, this time with a Moroccan Arabic interpreter. On September 14, 2026, the internal appeal was also rejected, ruling that the authenticity of the relationship was not proven, and Jude was ordered to leave Israel within 30 days.
Legal Struggle and Arguments
In the appeal filed by attorneys Usama Abu Ajag and Michael Zilbershid, it was argued that the decision completely fails to mention the couple's joint daughter, even though she is the strongest evidence of a genuine family unit. They claimed that the discrepancies relied upon by the authority were minor details or inaccuracies. The attorneys also stated that the first interview was not translated into the specific Arabic dialect spoken by Jude, and that the couple was not given an opportunity to respond to the discrepancies prior to the decision.
"They are ignoring the fact that we have a joint daughter. If you are not convinced of the relationship, why did you register her as my daughter without sending me for a DNA test?" said Inbar.
Attorney Zilbershid noted: "It is incomprehensible that the Interior Ministry's decision contains no mention that my client has a minor daughter who is an Israeli citizen. This is a combat soldier who contributed greatly to the state. We are at the beginning of a legal battle and have no doubt that ultimately the family will continue their life in Israel."
