Bill to strip terrorists of Israeli citizenship passes first reading 89-8

Garnering rare cross-Knesset support, a bill to revoke the Israeli citizenship of terror convicts paid by the Palestinian Authority passes its first reading on the Knesset floor.

Coming up for a vote just days after a deadly terror attack outside a Jerusalem synagogue, the bill advances 89-8. The bill also cleared its preliminary reading in mid-January with support from opposition lawmakers.

If the legislation passes its final readings to become law, it would revoke the citizenship or residency of convicted terrorists who are remunerated by the Palestinian Authority.

The bill applies to both Israeli citizens and permanent residents incarcerated following a terror conviction. The Palestinian Authority regularly pays stipends to convicted terrorists, and the bill also applies to those receiving payments made on the PA’s behalf by other organizations.