BICOM

The Knesset plenum yesterday voted in favour (37-11) of an Yisrael Beiteinu sponsored bill which enables Israel’s Supreme Court to revoke citizenship from anyone who is convicted of treason, aiding the enemy in a time of war or having committed an act of terror against the state. The law also allows the court to revoke the status of a permanent resident found guilty of helping a terrorist organisation. In addition, the bill states that someone convicted of terrorism would lose their right to allowances paid from the state, such as child and welfare allowances.

Yisrael Beiteinu chairman, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, lauded the Knesset’s decision as a step toward “contending with the phenomenon of exploiting democracy in order to subvert it.”

Also late Monday night, the plenum voted to officially strip former Balad MK Azmi Bishara of his parliamentary benefits, including his pension. The pension Bishara received from the Knesset stood at NIS 7,228 per month.

In February, the plenum voted into law a bill that would allow the parliament to deny benefits to MKs who failed to report to the police for questioning, for a trial, or to serve a prison sentence.