New bill seeks to revoke citizenship of terrorists and their families

"It is absurd that someone will continue having the rights of an Israeli citizen if they want to harm or kill us," Yisrael Beytenu's Ohayon says of bill he submitted.

By LAHAV HARKOV
Scene of Jerusalem terror attack, November 5 (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
Scene of Jerusalem terror attack, November 5
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
Israeli Arab terrorists and their families could lose their citizenship if a bill MK Shimon Ohayon (Yisrael Beytenu) submitted Thursday passes.
The legislation allows, but does not require, interior ministers to revoke citizenship from anyone who committed a terrorist act or aided someone in doing so, is a member of a terrorist organization or is a relative of someone who falls into those categories.
The alleged terrorists will have a chance to defend themselves before their citizenship is taken away.
“The fight against terrorism must be comprehensive and extensive,” Ohayon said. “It is absurd that someone will continue having the rights of an Israeli citizen if they want to harm or kill us.”
Ohayon posited that in recent years more Israeli Arabs, especially those in east Jerusalem, have committed terrorist attacks.
“Nothing gets in their way, because they are free to move around anywhere in the country.
This phenomenon leads Israeli citizens to lose their basic feeling of security,” he said.
The Yisrael Beytenu MK pointed out that if a terrorist is no longer a citizen, he will not be able to receive National Insurance benefits and other government payments.
“This is an alternative to the absurd situation we are in, in which terrorists enjoy the privileges the State of Israel grants to its citizens,” he said.