Israel to revoke rights of ‘families of terrorists’ after Jerusalem attacks
- Measures are likely to apply primarily to Palestinians with Israeli nationality (Israeli Arabs) and Palestinians with resident status in annexed east Jerusalem
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier vowed rapid action following two attacks in annexed east Jerusalem, one of which killed seven people near a synagogue
The Israeli security cabinet has announced measures to revoke certain rights of “terrorist families” after two attacks in east Jerusalem, one of which killed seven people near a synagogue.
Ahead of the meeting late on Saturday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had promised a “strong” and “swift” response to the attacks carried out by two Palestinians from annexed east Jerusalem.
The security cabinet later announced measures to revoke the rights to social security of “the families of terrorists that support terrorism”. It also said there would be a discussion on Sunday by the council of ministers over a bill to revoke their Israeli identity cards.
The measures announced are in line with proposals from Netanyahu’s far-right political partners which enabled him to return to power at the end of December, following elections the previous month.
They are likely to apply primarily to Palestinians with Israeli nationality (Israeli Arabs) and Palestinians with resident status in annexed east Jerusalem.
On Friday evening, a 21-year-old Palestinian fired on passers-by near a synagogue in the settlement neighbourhood of Neve Yaacov, killing seven people before being shot.
The bloodshed continued on Saturday, when a 13-year-old Palestinian boy shot and wounded a 47-year-old Israeli father and his army officer son, 23, in Silwan, just outside the walled Old City of east Jerusalem.