Knesset Plenum Approves Preliminary Reading Of Bill To Expel Families Of Terrorists

Jerusalem, 19 December, 2018 (TPS) -- The Knesset plenum approved on Wednesday a preliminary reading of the bill that would allow Israel to expel the families of terrorists involved in attacks on Israelis to different areas of Judea and Samaria or Gaza.

Sixty-nine MKs voted in favor of the bill, in contrast to the opinion of  Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit who announced earlier this week his opposition to the bill and warned that the bill could contravene human rights and could flare international condemnation of Israel.

“The bill severely infringes upon the liberty and property of family members who are intended for deportation, because of the act of another family member and without proof of their own danger, and therefore there is a constitutional impediment to advancing the proposed legislation.In addition, the proposal raises significant difficulties on the international level,” said Mandelblit.

Despite Mandelblit warnings, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu backed the bill.

“In my opinion, its benefit exceeds its damage,” Netanyahu said during a Likud faction meeting earlier this week.

“I have no doubt about the effectiveness of this tool,” he added.

Chairman of the Jewish Home Party Minister Naftali Bennett as well as MK Motti Yogev (Jewish Home) prompted the bill following a week of terrorist attacks in Samaria that left three people dead, including a three-day-old baby, and 15 others injured.

On Sunday night, the Ministerial Committee for Legislation backed the bill .