The law on deportation of families of terrorists: israelinfo.
On the night of 7 November, the Israeli Knesset passed in the second and third readings a new law that allows the deportation of terrorist families to the Gaza Strip without judicial approval. The bill, initiated by a group of MPs led by Hanoah Milvitsky and Eliyahu Revivo of the Likud party and Almog Cohen of Otsma Yehudit, was supported by 61 MPs, while 41 were against it. This innovation has yet to be tested for compliance with the law by the Supreme Court, TimeUkraineIsrael reports, citing Vesty.
Features of the Law and the Policy Context
The new law applies only to Arab citizens accused of terrorist acts. Jewish citizens accused of similar crimes are not covered by the law, which has sparked heated debate in parliament. During preliminary discussions of the bill on 29 October, the parliamentary committee on regulations erupted into heated debate, with accusations of discrimination being made. However, the chairman of the commission, Ofir Katz, stressed the need to resolutely fight terrorism. According to him, the law will be a tool that will eliminate previous delays caused by legal restrictions, allowing the authorities to better protect the safety of citizens.
Opposition opponents of the law warn of the risks of “collective punishment” and call for its extension to all terrorists, regardless of their ethnicity. In addition, the General Security Service (Shabak) has expressed reservations about some of the wording of the law.
Key Provisions of the Law
According to the new law, the Minister of the Interior of Israel is authorised to issue a deportation order for the relatives of a terrorist without a court order. Deportation can be carried out if it is proved that the family members knew about the preparation of the crime and did not try to stop it. Another ground for deportation may be support or solidarity with terrorist acts.
Before deportation, relatives are given the opportunity to present their arguments at a preliminary hearing, after which the minister must make a decision within 14 days. The law also allows the police to use force within “reasonable limits” to execute the order. For Israeli citizens, deportation can last from 7 to 15 years, and for persons with a residence permit – from 10 to 20 years.
Different Public Reactions and Political Resonance
The new law immediately sparked a broad debate in Israeli society. Its supporters believe that these measures will help in the fight against terrorism, allowing for a more rapid response to threats. Meanwhile, critics fear that the law violates human rights principles and sets a precedent for collective responsibility.
Given the divisions in society and the warnings of Shabak, the effectiveness and legality of the new powers will once again provoke heated debate.
