Israeli parliament approves law that could strip some Arab attackers of citizenship

Israel’s parliament on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved legislation to strip Arabs convicted of nationalist attacks of Israeli citizenship or residency and deport them if they have received benefits from the Palestinian Authority (PA).

The decision, which could affect hundreds of Palestinians and Israelis, was condemned as racist by Arab lawmakers as well as Palestinian officials in the occupied West Bank.

The internationally recognized Palestinian Authority has long provided benefits to the families of Palestinians killed or imprisoned in attacks on Israelis.

Prisoners are considered heroes in Palestinian society, and the PA considers the payment a form of welfare for impoverished families. But Israel says they reward violence and act as an incentive for others to carry out attacks.

About 4,700 Palestinians have been jailed by Israel for alleged security violations, according to Israeli rights group HaMoked. Of these, approximately 360 are Israeli citizens or residents of East Jerusalem, which Israel captured during the 1967 Middle East war and later annexed.

Although Israel considers all of Jerusalem its undivided capital, its annexation of the eastern part of the city is not recognized internationally. Most Palestinians in Jerusalem have Israeli residency rights, which allow them to work and travel freely and give them access to Israeli social services, but not full citizenship, which would allow them to vote.

Vote 94 to 10

In Wednesday’s vote, parliament voted 94-10 in favor of the law, which gives authorities the right to strip people of their citizenship or residency and deport them to the West Bank or Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian Authority has limited autonomy in parts of the West Bank, where Israel wields overall control. Meanwhile, the Gaza Strip is under the control of the militant group Hamas and is largely closed by an Israeli-Egyptian blockade.

“It is unthinkable that Israeli citizens and citizens who have not only betrayed the Israeli state and society, but have also agreed to receive payments from the PA as wages to carry out acts of terrorism and continue to benefit from it – will continue to hold Israeli citizenship or residency status,” said an explanatory note to the bill.

Jewish lawmakers across the political spectrum, including the opposition, voted in favor of the bill, while Arab lawmakers abstained.

Arab lawmaker Ahmad Tibi said the bill was racist because it only applied to Palestinians convicted of violence.

“Arabs who commit offenses are conditional citizens,” he said. “If a Jew commits the same or a more serious offense, he does not think of revoking his citizenship.”

Kadoura Fares, head of the Palestinian prisoners’ club, a West Bank group that represents prisoners and their families, said the law was “a very dangerous decision that aims to transfer Palestinians from cities and villages under the pretext of seeking social assistance from the PA.”

HaMoked, an Israeli rights group, said 140 Arab citizens and 211 Jerusalemites could be affected by the law.

It said Jerusalem residents are particularly vulnerable because they have fewer legal protections to fight the order. The group also said that because east Jerusalem is considered occupied territory, population transfers would violate international humanitarian law.

In a separate case, Israel recently deported a Palestinian in east Jerusalem to France after claiming he belonged to a banned militant group.

“It’s a shame that this law passed, and with the majority support of the opposition as well,” said Jessica Montell, executive director of HaMoked.

“Revoking citizenship is an extreme step – and revoking Palestinian east Jerusalem residency and deporting them would be a war crime.”