Jerusalem: Israel has granted a rare residency permit to a Palestinian, who is gay, following the man's plea that his life, in the West Bank, is in danger due to sexuality.

The 33-year-old Palestinian from the town of Jenin was issued a temporary permit to live with his Israeli partner in Tel Aviv after arguing that he faced death threats from fellow Palestinians who disapproved of him being a gay, defence ministry sources said.

The Palestinian had filed a request several years ago with the Israeli Interior Ministry to allow him live with his lover, a computer engineer in his forties.

After realising that obtaining the permit from the ministry may take several years, the young man decided to seek the help of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Palestinian Territories.

In a letter to Major General Yosef Mishlav, he noted that ever since his family learned of his gay relationship with an Israeli man, he has been facing a threat to his life.

The move had the desired result and Mishlav in an unprecedented move decided to grant the request and issue the Palestinian a temporary permit, which needs to be extended every month.

The relaxation in norms comes amid strict Israeli family reunification laws which has forced several Palestinians living in the West Bank to live away from their partners residing in Israeli territory.

Source : PTI