The bill by the chairman of the coalition, MK Ofir Katz, to deny citizenship and deport terrorists passed today (Monday) in the first reading in the Knesset plenum – with a large majority of 89 members of the Knesset from the coalition and opposition parties.
Coalition chairman Ofir Katz said: “I say to the bereaved families, we are changing the equation today, justice will be done.
There are those who sanctify life and there are those who sanctify death, it is not possible for damned terrorists to kill us, get money for it and stay in the State of Israel, their place is in Gaza.’
Katz also added: “Let it be clear – anyone who votes against this bill supports terrorism and should not be in the Israeli Knesset, and I will deal with that as well.”
Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir said: “I welcome the bill to revoke the citizenship or residency of a terrorist operative who received a reward for committing an act of terrorism that passed the first reading this evening in the Knesset plenum.
The bill passed is one important step from a very broad basket of measures that will be taken in the fight against the terrorists. We will continue to act with a hard and powerful hand against terrorism.’
The explanation for the proposal reads: “Many people who hold Israeli citizenship or residency these days actually receive monthly salaries from the Authority as wages and rewards for committing acts of terrorism. These salaries increase gradually with the seniority of the people in prison. It is unthinkable that citizens and residents of Israel who not only betrayed the Israeli state and society, but also agreed to receive payment from the Authority as a reward for carrying out the act of terrorism and continue to benefit from it, will continue to hold Israeli citizenship or residency.
A citizen or resident of the State of Israel who has agreed to receive payment from the Authority, directly or through a foreign body, as a reward or reward for committing an act of terrorism or another offense that seriously harms the security of the state, such as him as self-certifying that he renounces his status as a citizen or resident. There is additional and decisive seriousness in the fact that the same citizen or resident of the state, who enjoys all the rights granted to him by the state, commits a terrorist offense and receives a reward from the authority, as a reward for carrying out the act of terrorism.”
