Parliament on Wednesday rejected a resolution to speed up work on a bill seeking to ban Israeli passport holders from entering the Maldives. The resolution, submitted by North Galolhu MP Mohamed Ibrahim of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), was defeated with 63 votes against, 15 in favour, and one abstention.

The bill, originally introduced by South Galolhu MP Meekail Ahmed Naseem in May, proposes an amendment to the Immigration Act to bar all Israeli passport holders, including dual citizens, from entering the country. It was unanimously sent to the National Security Services (241) Committee for review in June but has seen little progress in the past five months.

During the debate, several lawmakers from the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) expressed concerns about the impact of a blanket ban on tourism and called for extensive stakeholder consultations. President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s cabinet had previously decided in June to amend the Immigration Act to implement such a ban, though Attorney General Usham noted that a full ban might lead to complications and promised further amendments.

The Security Services Committee resumed discussions on the bill on November 12, deciding to set February 2025 as the deadline for completing its review. Lawmakers agreed that consultations with various stakeholders are essential before moving forward.

The rejection of the resolution highlights the challenges in implementing the proposed ban amid competing priorities and the need for careful consideration of its broader implications.