A bill to revoke the citizenship or residency of terrorists who receive compensation from the Palestinian Authority for acts of terror passed in a first reading in the Knesset overnight Monday.

The bill, which was proposed and supported by members of both the coalition and opposition, was passed by an overwhelming majority of 89 MKs in favor versus eight MKs who opposed the bill.

According to the bill, Israeli citizens or residents who have been sentenced to prison for acts of terror and receive “pay to slay” payments from the Palestinian Authority, can be stripped of their Israeli citizenship or residency and be deported to the Palestinian Authority or the Gaza Strip.

The explanation for the proposal states: “Many people who hold Israeli citizenship or residency actually receive monthly salaries from the Palestinian Authority as wages and compensation for committing acts of terrorism. These salaries gradually increase with the seniority of the prisoners. It is unthinkable that citizens and residents of Israel who not only betrayed the Israeli state and society but even agreed to receive payments from the Palestinian Authority as a reward for carrying out acts of terrorism and continue to benefit from them, will continue to hold Israeli citizenship or residency.”

Coalition chairman Ofir Katz (Likud) said in the plenary: “Today we are changing the equation. The celebration that existed until today of murdering Jews, receiving a salary from the PA, returning here and receiving candy is over. Anyone who votes against this law is a supporter of terrorism. In these difficult days, I think that a message goes out from here to the citizens of the State of Israel that we here – the opposition and the coalition – are united at this moment – at least in the face of terrorism, which reminds us who our real enemies are.”

Israeli security officials said during a Knesset hearing on the bill on Monday that about 70% of terrorists currently imprisoned in Israel and receiving “pay to slay” payments have Israeli citizenship or residency.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)