High Court rejects rescinding Palestinian lawmakers’ residency in Jerusalem

The High Court of Justice on Wednesday strikes down a 2006 decision to rescind the permanent residency status of four members of the Palestinian parliament living in East Jerusalem.

The decision restores permanent residency status to all four members of the Palestinian Legislative Council.

Israeli officials have sought to distance the lawmakers, who they say are affiliated with the Hamas terror group, from the city.

But the 2006 decision by the Interior Ministry cited the four Palestinians’ “disloyalty” toward Israel as the cause for rescinding their citizenship.

“Even in a war against terrorism, the State of Israel limits itself to actions within the boundaries of the law,” the ruling says, and explains that “disloyalty” is not a sufficient cause for removing a permanent resident’s status.