Khaberni - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, on Tuesday, ratified a decision that stipulates the withdrawal of residency and the deportation of the two freed Palestinian prisoners, Mahmoud Ahmad from the town of Kafr Aqab north of Jerusalem, and Mohammed Ahmad Hussein Helsi from the town of Jabal Mukaber, to the Gaza Strip. It is the first such step since the enactment of the law to withdraw citizenship and deport those whom Israel describes as "convicted of terrorist operations."
Netanyahu said, in a brief statement, that he signed the decision in his capacity as acting Minister of the Interior, justifying the move by stating that the prisoners had committed stabbing and shooting operations in occupied Jerusalem, and promising that "many like them are also on the way," referring to his government's intention to expand the scope of the law's application.
According to Israeli media reports, the decision is based on a law initiated by Knesset member Ofer Katz, head of the government coalition, which allows for the withdrawal of citizenship or permanent residency from Palestinians within the 1948 territories, and their deportation from the country, if proven to have received financial benefits from the Palestinian Authority for cases categorized by Israel as "security" related.
The sources indicated that the legal proceedings for the first stage had been completed for the two prisoners, following a lengthy sequence of monitoring sessions and approvals involving security agencies and the government's legal advisor, and concluded with Netanyahu signing the final decision.
Punitive Approach
According to reports, it is planned to immediately deport one of the prisoners after completing the administrative arrangements, while the decision to deport the second prisoner will be implemented following his release from prison.
Data published previously by "Maariv" indicates that about 850 Palestinian prisoners with Israeli citizenship or permanent residency could meet the criteria of this law. The Israeli authorities treat this step as a "prototype" in preparation for a broader application of the law in the upcoming phase.
This step comes amidst escalating human rights criticisms, which see the law as a form of collective punishment that violates the principles of international law, and is used as a political tool to perpetuate policies of exclusion and displacement against Palestinians.
