Israeli Parliament Passes Controversial Law Allowing Revocation of Palestinian Citizenship for Terror Convictions

The Israeli parliament has passed a new law that would allow for the revocation of the citizenship or residency rights of Palestinians convicted of terror offenses. The law, which was supported by both the coalition and opposition parties, is aimed at deterring militant violence. However, it has been condemned as racist by Palestinians living in the occupied West Bank.

Under the legislation, Israel’s interior minister will have the power to revoke the citizenship of those who have been convicted of terror charges and sentenced to prison time, or if they or their family have received stipends from the Palestinian Authority as a result of their crimes. The law will apply to Palestinian-Israelis, who in theory have full citizenship rights, and those who have residency rights, including those who receive Israeli social benefits and hold identification cards that allow them to travel throughout the country.

Those whose citizenship is revoked will be deported, after serving their sentence, to an area of the occupied West Bank under semi-autonomous control of the Palestinian Authority.

The legislation was passed in the Knesset by 94 votes to 10. Various versions of the law have been proposed in the past but were criticized by Israeli legal experts. This time there was renewed impetus following the killing of ten Israelis in two attacks in Jerusalem, one by a Palestinian gunman and another who rammed his car into a bus stop.

Members of the Arab parties in the Knesset were alone in voting against the new law. Most of the center-left opposition parties voted in favor, while the Labor members were absent.

The passing of the bill was a rare moment of cross-party agreement in a parliament that has been deeply split lately over the Netanyahu government’s plans to radically change Israel’s judicial system.

The new law comes following a decision by the Israeli government on Sunday to advance planning for the construction of more than 9,000 homes on the Jewish settlements in the West Bank and to legalize nine settler outposts. The decision has been condemned by Britain and the United States and is expected to be the subject of a resolution at the UN Security Council on Monday.

The passing of the law is likely to further exacerbate tensions between Israelis and Palestinians, and it remains to be seen what impact it will have on the ongoing conflict in the region.