Israel passes law to deport relatives of Palestinians accused of attacks

The Israeli parliament, the Knesset, has passed a law that allows the deportation of relatives of Palestinians who carry out attacks against Israelis, including those with Israeli citizenship.

According to the new bill approved on Wednesday, the minister of the interior can deport people for a period of up to 20 years to the besieged Gaza Strip or another location based on the "circumstances". 

The relatives - including parents, siblings, children or spouses - can be deported on the basis of expressing "support or sympathy" for the act of "terrorism" committed, or for publishing  "praise, admiration, or encouragement," according to Haaretz. 

They can also be deported for failing to prevent the attack if they knew about it in advance. 

The legislation, proposed by Hanoch Milwidsky, a lawmaker of the ruling Likud party, was passed with 61 MPs in support and 41 opponents. 

Palestinian citizens of Israel can be deported for a minimum of seven years and a maximum of 15, while non-citizens are to be deported for 10 to 20 years.

The bill was reportedly backed by the Shin Bet internal intelligence agency, who allegedly labelled it as an effective deterrent.   

Aida Touma-Suleiman, a Palestinian Knesset member, criticised it as "predatory". 

"If there is someone the state thinks is supporting terrorism, there is the law - exhaust the criminal procedure with him, but for a minister to issue an order to deport a family? If it's old people or children, or mom and dad who weren't involved, will they be deported?" she said. 

"Where does it sound like they will be denied citizenship based on family ties? Fascism is already seeping into society and into this house." 

'Fascism is already seeping into society and into this house' 

- Aida Touma-Suleiman, a Palestinian Knesset member

The Knesset also approved a temporary five-year order on Wednesday that allows children convicted of capital offences considered as "terrorism" to be sentenced to prison from the age of 12.  

Earlier this week, the Knesset approved a draft law that gives the minister of education permission to order the prevention of the transfer of budgets to schools on the grounds that a "terrorist act" could be taking place. 

It particularly mentions Palestinian schools in occupied East Jerusalem, which it claims "incite minors against the state of Israel".

The bill will also grant the dismissal of educators without prior notice on the grounds that they have identified with a "terrorist act".

MK Amit Levy, one of two who proposed the bill, said it “targets the strongest infrastructure of terrorism: education”. 

“The law ensures that Israeli students are educated in justice, science and compassion, not in terrorism, injustice and barbarism.”