Israel passes law withdrawing residency from Jerusalem's Palestinians

Palestine

Published: 2018-03-08 20:45

Last Updated: 2024-03-28 00:11


Jerusalem
Jerusalem

The Israeli parliament on Wednesday passed a law that allows the ministry of interior to withdraw the residency of any Palestinian in Jerusalem in the case they “ breach loyalty” to Israel.

The Israeli ministry of interior will also be able to revoke residency status if Palestinians have provided false information and in cases where the ministry evaluates acts committed by said Palestinians as criminal.

Senior member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) slammed the law as "an extremely racist piece of legislation.”

"By unethically stripping the residency of Palestinians from Jerusalem and depriving the rights of those Palestinians to remain in their own city, the Israeli government is acting in defiance of international law and is violating international human rights and humanitarian laws," Ashrawi said in a statement published by the Palestinian national news agency Wafa.

Palestinians hope East Jerusalem will become the capital of Palestine when a two-state solution is reached. Currently, residents of Jerusalem hold an Israeli residency in addition to Jordanian travel documents.