Erdan weighs option of revoking residency status of terrorism supporters

Erdan's comments come on the heels of new legislation being proposed in Jerusalem to tackle terrorism by amending a law that deals with residency status.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Gilad Erdan (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
Gilad Erdan
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
A day after Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat put forward the possibility of stripping citizenship from families of terrorists who support their actions, newly-appointed Interior Minister Gilad Erdan seems to be following in his footsteps.
In an interview with Army Radio, Barkat said Israel had to focus its efforts to stem terrorism on "bad people," by first locating them, and then taking a tough stance against them.
"We have to be as tough as we possibly can," the mayor warned, "and be stern with how we" dole out punishment.
Barkat has held talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other cabinet members to look at ways to nullify Israeli citizenship of relatives of convicted terrorists and "be more firm against inciters, rioters and rock-throwers."
Erdan raised the hot-button issue at a cultural event in Ness Ziona on Saturday. He said his office was looking at the option of revoking the permanent-residence status – as well as social benefits and rights – of east Jerusalem residents who encourage and incite violence.
His comments come as new legislation is being pushed in the Knesset to deal with the legal status of Israeli residents convicted of terrorism, espionage and harming state sovereignty. The sponsors of the bill tout it as a way to deter would-be terrorists from turning to violence.