Netanyahu Implements Law to Revoke Citizenship and Deport Convicts

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed the first orders to revoke the legal status of individuals convicted of security offenses, signaling a shift from legislative theory to active enforcement. This move marks the first practical application of a 2023 law targeting those deemed to have “breached loyalty” to the state.

Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!

The 2026 Enforcement

• Initial Orders: Netanyahu signed orders against two individuals—one a citizen and one a resident of East Jerusalem—following their convictions for violent “terrorist acts.”
• The “PA Link”: The legal basis for deportation rests on the claim that these individuals received financial stipends from the Palestinian Authority (PA). Under the law, this payment is viewed as an admission of Palestinian affiliation.
• Deportation Destination: The government has indicated that these individuals will be transferred to Gaza or Palestinian-controlled areas of the West Bank.

The Legislative Mechanism (2023 Law)

The law, passed with a rare wall-to-wall majority in the Knesset, allows for the stripping of status under two specific conditions:

1. Criminal Conviction: The person must be convicted of terrorism, treason, or aiding a “terrorist” organization.
2. Financial Support: The person must be proven to have received money from the PA, either directly or through a third party, as compensation for the crime.

Core Controversies

The implementation of these orders has triggered significant legal and ethical pushback:

Perspective	Argument
The Government	Argues that citizenship is a “covenant” that is broken by acts of terror and that receiving PA funds constitutes a “transfer of loyalty.”
Human Rights Groups	Argue the law is discriminatory, as it effectively targets only Palestinians. Jewish Israelis convicted of similar crimes do not receive PA funds and thus do not face the threat of statelessness.
International Law	Legal experts warn that making a citizen stateless or deporting them to a conflict zone violates international treaties signed by Israel.

Current Context: This move coincides with intense international pressure on Netanyahu, including ongoing proceedings at the International Criminal Court (ICC) and domestic protests regarding judicial and security policies.