Bill could lead to terrorists’ deportation from Israel

New legislation seeks to revoke Israeli permanent-resident status of convicted terrorists.

By LAHAV HARKOV
IDF soldier handcuffs a man (photo credit: REUTERS)
IDF soldier handcuffs a man
(photo credit: REUTERS)
New legislation seeking to revoke terrorists’ permanent-residence status could lead to their deportation from Israel.
MKs Ayelet Shaked (Bayit Yehudi) and David Tsur (Hatnua) submitted a bill Wednesday that is meant to deal with a lacuna in the law that allows the interior minister to withdraw convicted terrorists’ Israeli citizenship, but does not apply to those who are permanent residents.
The initiative comes in response to the recent wave of terrorist attacks, many of which were committed by residents, not citizens.
Under the bill, the interior minister would be allowed revoke residency status as well, if a resident is convicted of terrorism, harming state sovereignty, helping an enemy in wartime, serving in enemy forces, espionage, or passing on secret information.
Lack of residence status would mean that a terrorist would have to apply for a visa to remain in Israel or face deportation.
“The lacuna in the current law creates a situation in which a citizen who commits an act of terrorism knows his citizenship can be revoked and he will lose many rights, whereas a permanent resident of Israel knows that he has nothing to lose, because there is a loophole in the law,” Shaked explained.
According to Shaked, this bill is another step in increasing deterrence against would-be terrorists.
“This is not only physically destroying houses – this is destroying a house in a broader meaning. Whoever acts against the country and its citizens will get a red card,” she said, referring to a soccer player being ejected from the field.