°®Âþµº

An Israeli ministerial committee approved a controversialÌýbill on Sunday that would bar married to from gaining residency in Israel.

Simcha Rothman, an Israeli MP from the Religious Zionism Party, introduced the bill restricting citizenship opportunities to some Palestinians.

Another bill on the same topic, submitted by Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked, also received backing from the ministerial committee last week.

The two drafted legislation are due toÌýreplace a temporary lawÌýthat expired in JulyÌýafter the Knesset failed to renew it.

Rothman's bill has been described as "more restrictive" than Shaked's by Israeli daily .ÌýIt is similar to a series of temporary lawsÌýbanning Israeli residency for Palestinians who marry Israelis.

The law had been adopted in 2003ÌýandÌýrenewed annually since.

The ministers' backing for a more restrictive bill is likely an attemptÌýto pushÌýtwo parties in the to accept Shaked's bill, which they had initially rejected.

Right and far-right Israeli parties have been trying to block Palestinians' access to Israeli residency for years through these temporary laws, which have been contested by Israeli High Court rulings.Ìý

Earlier this month, the High Court ruled that Israel's interior ministry could not continue to deny family reunification for Palestinians married to Israelis since the temporary bill barring them from obtaining residency had expired.