[Peace-discuss] Unpatriotic Israelis…

[Morton K. Brussel]

FYI

Israeli Knesset passes law to revoke citizenship of 'unpatriotic'  
Israelis

January 28, 2007

A new law passed Wednesday will allow the Israeli government to  
revoke the citizenship of citizens considered unpatriotic to the  
Jewish state of Israel. The law is expected to be applied especially  
to the 20% of Israeli citizens who are of Palestinian origin.

Passage of the controversial law comes just as a torrent of criticism  
was launched by Knesset member Ahmed Tibi against the Knesset for  
alleged discrimination against its Arab members. Tibi accused the  
Knesset of discriminatory practices, in which Arab members are  
required to ask permission, even to use the bathroom, while Jewish  
members of the Knesset are not.

The new law, passed despite a recommendation against it by the  
Israeli Attorney General, allows for the deportation and revocation  
of citizenship of Israelis for a wide range of offenses, including  
"visiting enemy nations" and "encouraging terror against Israel",  
with the latter being so open to interpretation that many  
Palestinians with Israeli citizenship fear that simply being  
Palestinian will be reason enough for Israeli officials to revoke  
their citizenship. The Israeli Attorney General called the law, "a  
drastic and extreme move that harms civil liberties." He also stated  
that the new law violates international law.


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