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Ìýis set to vote this week on theÌý, a controversial measureÌýthat barsÌýPalestinians from the Palestinian territories married to Palestinians with Israeli citizenship fromÌýautomatically earningÌýcitizenship and residency permits.

The bill was approved on Sunday by the Israeli cabinet, allowing it to move forward to the Knesset for final approval. Ìý

The bill wasÌýin line with a series of temporary laws banningÌýpermanent residency in Israel for Palestinians from the West Bank and the Gaza StripÌýwho marry Israeli citizens,Ìýwhich have been contested by Israeli High Court rulings.Ìý

It was firstÌýadopted in 2003Ìýand had been renewed annually until this JulyÌýwhen the bill expired without securing renewed approval.

Negotiations were ongoing between members of Israel's ruling coalition to renew the bill, which the Israeli executive effectively continued to enforce despite its expiry, denying family reunification for many.

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.

Palestinians married to Israelis can only apply forÌýa temporary residency status renewable each year, which can be removed at any time by authorities under the pretext of "national security".

Israel's policies towards Palestinians have left what officials estimate to be tens of thousands without legal status and have torn many families apart.

Officially the Israeli government has beenÌýtaking the position that the limitations on granting Israeli residency or citizenship are based on security considerations - to prevent Palestinians involved in "terrorist activity" from becoming Israeli citizens.

Others have rebuffed these claims, saying ÌýIsrael is trying to reduce the number of Palestinians being granted Israeli citizenship.

Senior Israeli officials have also publicly acknowledged their fears that the move could boost Israel's non-Jewish population.

"The family reunification law has nothing to do with security. It is related to demography, because Israel, since the Nakba (Catastrophe in 1948) and its aftermath wants to preserve a Jewish majority, and that is the basis for this racist law," Ofer Cassif, member of Knesset toldÌýAnadolu AgencyÌýin an interview last year.